The Catholic Church’s approval for blessings of people in same-sex relationships “will remain” under Pope Leo, according to the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office in comments made earlier this week.
By
Q News
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández made the comments to Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper as he left the Holy See Press Office on July 3.
Asked if Pope Leo would try to walk back the policy that had been introduced by his predecessor, Pope Francis, Cardinal Fernández replied, “I really don’t think so. The declaration will remain.”
Cardinal Fernández had been meeting privately with Pope Leo earlier that day.
Change under Francis
In December of 2023, Pope Francis released Fiducia Supplicans, a 5,000 word document on the theological significance of the Catholic act of blessing which gave Catholic clergy the green light to bless gays and lesbians who are in relationships at their own discretion.
Fiducia Supplicans distinguishes formal liturgical blessings, like marriages and baptisms, from “spontaneous” pastoral blessings, which Francis wrote were appropriate for people in same-sex relationships, and others who are in relationships that are contrary to Catholic teaching.
In other words, while same-sex couples can receive blessings, these are not equivalent to marriage, which the Catholic Church teaches is solely between a man and a woman.
In May, Pope Leo declared that family is “founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.”
Months earlier, in October 2023, the Vatican did rule, however, that the children of same-sex couples can be baptised in the Catholic faith.
This is allowed as long as there is a “well-founded hope that he or she will be educated in the Catholic religion.”
