By John Mack Freeman
Vatican City has stalled on accepting the newest ambassador from France because he is an out gay man. Laurent Stefanini, a close advisor to French President Hollande and a chief of protocol for the French diplomatic corps, was named to the post in early January. However, Stefanini’s appointment has not been officially accepted, signalling to many that the Holy See has problems with his nomination. Via Gay Star News:
As envoys are normally accepted within six weeks, and as the Vatican does not explicitly refuse credentials, a prolonged silence is being taken as a rejection.
French media have widely reported that the rejection happened because of Stefanini’s sexuality, with Le Journal du Dimanche quoting a Vatican inside saying it was ‘a decision taken by the pope himself’.
