POPE FRANCIS has described homosexuality as "fashionable" in an interview in which he also expressed concern about having gay people in the Catholic clergy.

The pontiff made the comments in an interview about religious vocations which was published on the Italian newspaper Corrierre della Sera's website [via The Independent].

In the interview, which came as part of an excerpt from a book on the topic, Pope Francis stated that the Church had to be "demanding" when it came to choosing candidates for the priesthood.

The pontiff stated there was "no room" for homosexual men in the church and went on to warn gay priests to either practice celibacy or leave the church.

"The issue of homosexuality is a very serious issue that must be adequately discerned from the beginning with the candidates," the pontiff said in the quotes, taken from an interview for the book The Strength of a Vocation.


"In our societies it even seems that homosexuality is fashionable and that mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the church."

"It can happen that at the time perhaps they didn't exhibit [that tendency], but later on it comes out," Francis said.

The Roman Catholic church has always maintained a hard-line stance on issues around homosexuality.

"In consecrated and priestly life, there's no room for that kind of affection," the Pope said in the published quotes.

"Therefore, the church recommends that people with that kind of ingrained tendency should not be accepted into the ministry or consecrated life.


"It's better for them to leave the ministry or the consecrated life rather than to live a double life."

Despite the strong tone of his sentiment on the issue, Pope Francis was keen to stress that gay Catholics still had a significant contribute to make to the church.

"They are persons who will live in the service of the church, of the Christian community, of the people of God. Let's never forget this perspective."