How the Pope made Stephen K Amos cry

Emotional end to his Pilgrimage as Pontiff condemns homophobia

Stephen K Amos might be more used to comedy club banter that challenging the religious hierarchy.

But the comedian got to put a difficult question to the Pope for a BBC Show being aired tonight – and was reduced to tears by the response.

Amos met the Pontiff in the Vatican after joined other celebrities on the ancient 1,250-mile Via Francigena through Italy for BBC Two's The Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome.

During their audience, the atheist comedian told Pope Francis why he had come on the journey, but told of how he felt ostracised by the Church.

Amos said: 'I lost my mother and three months ago I buried my twin sister, who were both very religious. So me coming on this pilgrimage being non-religious, I was looking for answers and faith. But as a gay Man I don't feel accepted.

In response, the Pope said: 'Giving more importance to the adjustive and not the noun, this is not good, We are all human being and have dignity. It does not matter who you are who you live your life, you do not lose your dignity.

'There are people that prefer to select or discard people because of the adjective. These people don't have a human heart.'

Addressing the wider group, he said: 'I feel myself among brothers and sisters. I have not asked any of you what your faith or belief because you all have a basic belief in humanity.

He then asked for believers to pray with him, and for non-believers to 'wish me a good journey so I do not let anybody down.'

Afterwards, Amos said he was blown away by the Pope's 'amazing phrase' about ignoring the adjectives. 'That is when I lost it,' he said. ' To be frank his candid and honest response blew my mind, that is what I've been searching for for a long time.

"Let’s just say it was a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life, meeting perhaps one of the most progressive Popes in history.'

The pilgrims also included Birds Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph, a non-practising Jew. She introduces herself as 'an actress, 72…' They laugh as the Pontiff tells her: 'You don’t seem to be 72.'

She also committed something a faux pas when she said: 'Bless you' to the Pope.

Here are the celebrities meetng the Pope in the Vatican: