Francis writes reply to letter from gay Catholics

Pope Francis has responded personally to a letter from a group of gay and lesbian Italian Catholics sent in June, according to the Italian daily La Repubblica, reports The Tablet.

The group, Kairos of Florence, asked for openness and dialogue, noting that closure to discussion "always feeds homophobia".

The Kairos group said they also received a letter from the Secretariat of State, saying Pope Francis "really enjoyed" their letter and the way it was written. 

The Pope reportedly assured the group of his blessing, but Kairos decided to keep the rest of both letters private.

The letter was not the first of its kind to be sent to a pope, but one Kairos leaders, Innocent Pontillo, said that on previous occasions: "no-one had ever even given a nod of response."