Pope Francis clarifies stance on blessings for same-sex couples by allowing blessings for individuals but not unions.
The Vatican faced controversy when the Pope approved blessings for Catholics in same-sex unions during a conversation with CBS ’60 Minutes’.
This change was outlined in the document Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), leading to mixed reactions from the global community.
While some gay Catholics welcomed the shift, others, notably African bishops, strongly opposed it, sparking widespread debate within the Catholic Church.
“Last year you decided to allow Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples,” CBS ’60 Minutes’ anchor Norah O’Donnell said. “That’s a big change. Why?”
“No, what I allowed was not to bless the union. That cannot be done because that is not the sacrament. I cannot. The Lord made it that way,” Pope Francis said, in remarks translated into English.
“But to bless each person, yes. The blessing is for everyone. For everyone. To bless a homosexual-type union, however, goes against the given right, against the law of the Church. But to bless each person, why not? The blessing is for all. Some people were scandalized by this. But why? Everyone! Everyone!”