Pope confirms 'gay lobby' at work at Vatican in remarks reported by Latam priests and nuns

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis lamented that a "gay lobby" was at work at the Vatican and acknowledged he wasn't particularly adept at administration during a private audience with the leadership of a key Latin American church group.

The Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious — the regional organization for priests and nuns of religious orders — confirmed Tuesday that its leaders had penned a synthesis of Francis' remarks after their audience on Thursday.

The group said it was greatly distressed that the document had been published and apologized.

In the document, Francis is quoted as saying that while there were many holy people in the Vatican, there was also corruption: "The "gay lobby" is mentioned, and it is true, it is there... We need to see what we can do..."