Who am I to judge homosexuals - Pope Francis

Pope Francis on his way back to Rome from a long trip to Brazil declared that it was not his place to judge homosexuals.

He said: "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?"

"The problem is not having this orientation, it is lobbying. That's the most serious problem I think."

Talking about Battista Ricca, who was appointed by the pontiff to a key position at the troubled Vatican bank, but is embroiled in allegations that he had gay relationships with male prostitutes.

The pope said he had ordered a "brief investigation but we found nothing on him".

"I have not seen anyone at the Vatican who is registered as gayon his identity card. We acknowledge that there are (gays)," he said.

Nevertheless, "the catechism of the Catholic Church says clearly that we must not marginalise these people who should be integrated in the society."