Vatican City— Pope Francis asked forgiveness Wednesday for recent scandals that have hit Rome and the Vatican, showing once again he doesn't much care about making waves if it's for the sake of assuring his flock.

Francis didn't cite examples in his off-the-cuff request for pardon at the start of his general audience, but it was met with subdued applause afterward. However, the past week has seen its fair share of headline-making news that has involved the church in one way or another.

On the eve of Francis' big and contentious meeting on family issues, a Vatican monsignor came out as gay and, with his boyfriend by his side, denounced homophobia in the Vatican.

A few days later, Rome's mayor resigned amid scandal of his own doing. But Mayor Ignazio Marino's downfall followed widespread criticism within the church that the city was ill-prepared to handle the millions of pilgrims expected to come for Francis big Jubilee Year of Mercy, which starts in December. Francis himself, in an uncharacteristically petty jab, said en route home from the U.S. that Marino hadn't been invited to the final papal Mass in Philadelphia.

And finally, Francis' synod has been rocked by revelations that a dozen conservative cardinals wrote to the pope with serious concerns about the way the meeting was being run and warning that if the church were to compromise on its teaching about marriage, it could go the way of "collapsed" Protestant churches.

"Before I begin the catechesis I would like in the name of the church to ask forgiveness for the scandals which have recently hit Rome and the Vatican," Francis said to thousands of people gathered under damp but warm skies in St. Peter's Square. "I ask your forgiveness."

"Jesus is realist and he says that it is inevitable that scandal happens, but woe to the man who causes such scandals," he said.

Requests to the Vatican spokesman for clarification on what he meant were not immediately provided.

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