1 of 1 Pope Francis on a visit to Portugal for World Youth Day on August 2, 2023 Photo: MIGUEL A. LOPES/Portal Pope Francis on a visit to Portugal for World Youth Day on August 2, 2023 Photo: MIGUEL A. LOPES/Portal
Pope Francis apparently left open the possibility of priests granting blessings to samesex couples, as long as they are limited, decided on a casebycase basis and not confused with wedding ceremonies for heterosexual couples.
One of the questions was specifically about samesex marriage, which has become common in countries like Germany and involves priests blessing gay couples in a relationship.
Francis’ nuanced answers differ from the Vatican’s 2021 Magisterium’s explicit ban. In his response, the Pope explained that the Church is very sensitive to the sacrament of marriage, which should only take place between a man and a woman open to procreation be clear. He also said that the church should avoid any other ritual that contradicts this teaching.
However, he explained that “pastoral charity must permeate all our decisions and attitudes,” adding that “we cannot be judges who only deny, reject and exclude.”
In his opinion, asking for blessings is sometimes a way for people to get closer to God and live a better life, even if some actions are “objectively morally unacceptable.”
The Church teaches that being attracted to people of the same sex is not a sin, but homosexual acts are.
According to Francis, any blessings should not become the norm or seek explicit approval from ecclesiastical jurisdictions such as dioceses and national bishops’ conferences.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which promotes the church’s outreach to Catholics in the LGBT community, said that while the blessings were not “fully and clearly endorsed,” the response was well received.
In a statement, DeBernardo said the pope’s words showed “that the church recognizes that holy love can exist between samesex couples and that their love reflects the love of God.”