One daily newspaper, Corriere della Sera, quoted unnamed bishops who were in the room as suggesting that the pope, as an Argentine, might not have realised that the Italian term he used was offensive.
Bruni said Francis was “aware” of the various articles.
The Vatican spokesman reiterated that the pope remained committed to a welcoming Church for all, where “nobody is useless, nobody is superfluous, (where) there is room for everyone”.
His reported comments caused shock and consternation, even among his supporters.
Vito Mancuso, an Italian theologian and former priest, told the daily La Stampa that Francis’ language was “despicable and surprising because it blatantly jars” with his previous messages on LGBT issues.
