VATICAN – Pope Francis has said African bishops were a “special case” regarding their opposition to his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples.
But he remained confident that gradually everyone will be reassured by the Church’s declaration.
In an interview with an Italian newspaper, the Pope said African church leaders and their supporters saw homosexuality from a cultural point of view as “something bad”.
He said last month’s new document, Fiducia Supplicans, was intended “to include and not divide”.
Pope Francis said he was not concerned about conservatives breaking away from the Catholic Church due to his reforms, saying that talk of a schism was led by what he called “small ideological groups”.
Late in December 2023 Pope Francis allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, a significant advance for LGBT people in the Roman Catholic Church.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said priests should be permitted to bless same-sex and “irregular” couples, under certain circumstances.
But the Vatican said blessings should not be part of regular Church rituals or related to civil unions or weddings.
It added that it continues to view marriage as between a man and a woman.
The Vatican said it should be a sign that “God welcomes all”, but the document says priests must decide on a case-by-case basis. (BBC)
