On Friday, Pope Francis defended the Catholic Church’s recent endorsement of blessings for same-sex couples, aiming to appease conservative dissenters.
In December, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, responsible for Roman Catholic doctrine, granted priests the authority to bless “irregular” and same-sex couples in specific situations. This decision triggered criticism, especially in Africa, where some accused the Church of reconsidering its stance on gay marriage and homosexuality, despite its established opposition to both.
“These blessings… do not require moral perfection in order to be received,” the pope said during an audience with members of the dicastery.
“When a couple asks for it, it is not the union that is blessed, but simply the people who together have asked for it,” he said.
“Not the union, but the people, naturally taking into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it,” Francis added.
The initial statement emphasised that priests were limited to conducting blessings for same-sex couples, divorcees, or unmarried couples in “non-ritualized” settings, explicitly excluding weddings or civil unions.
The opposition to the Vatican’s decision has been particularly vehement in Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Notably, Cardinal Robert Sarah, a prominent figure in the conservative camp, denounced the declaration as “heresy.”
In response to criticism, the dicastery defended itself, asserting the Church’s “clear and definitive” stance on marriage, exclusively between a man and a woman, and regarding homosexuality as a sin. However, it called for “prudence and attention to the ecclesial context and to the local culture” when implementing the measure.
Since his 2013 election, 87-year-old Pope Francis has advocated for inclusivity within the Church, extending a welcome to all faithful, including the homosexual and LGBTQ communities. Despite these efforts, he has faced staunch resistance from the traditional and conservative factions.
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