The Archbishop of the northern Adriatic city of Rijeka, Mate Uzinic, has asked forgiveness from homosexual persons for feeling rejected by the Church and not getting pastoral guidance in accordance with the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

Uzinic issued a massage on Facebook on Monday on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, expressing regret that there are still Catholics who disagree with the spirit of the exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

Amoris Laetitia says that “every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while every sign of unjust discrimination is to be carefully avoided, par­ticularly any form of aggression and violence.”

“We also have a duty to guarantee to these people and their families considerate pastoral guidance so that people showing homosexual inclinations can get the necessary help to be able to fully understand and realise God’s will in their lives,” Uzinic wrote in his message.

“I regret that there are still Catholics who disagree with this, in particular those who think that they serve Christ and the Church through discrimination, aggression, violence, insults and abusive comments at the expense of homosexual persons,” he added, asking homosexuals for their forgiveness.