Pope Francis says he will not "judge" gays and lesbians

Pope Francis departed from his predecessors' remarks on gay people, telling reporters today that he was not in a position to judge people based on their sexuality.

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked reporters aboard a plane returning to Italy following his first trip abroad as pope to Brazil.

The remarks caused a stir with some gay Catholics wondering if the newly elected pope, a Jesuit who made a career ministering to the poor and marginalized, was signalling a shift in Church doctrine.

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