[6] In an interview in the film, Pope Francis supported same-sex civil union, stating: "Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family.

[3] After the premiere of Francesco on 21 October 2020, Massimiliano Menichetti, head of Vatican Radio and Vatican News, sent an e-mail to media outlets reporting on matters pertaining to the Holy See, telling them the Holy See for the time being would not comment on the subject, and asking them: "If you can, please report any reactions from listeners and followers in the middle or at the end of the day".

[11] On 30 October, the Secretariat of State sent a letter to all Catholic bishops' conferences about the remark made by Francis in the movie.

The letter states that the remark about civil union was about "a ten-year-old local law in Argentina on 'marriage equality of same-sex couples' and his opposition to them as the then-Archbishop of Buenos Aires in this regard" and that the pope rejected homosexual marriage, and that in the same context Francis "had spoken about the rights of [homosexuals] to have certain legal protection".

[12] On 22 October, Venezuelan President Maduro asked the next National Assembly (which was to be elected on 6 December) to consider a vote to legalise same-sex marriage, saying: "I have friends and acquaintances who are very happy with what the Pope said yesterday.