"Homosexuals have the right to be part of a family. They are children of God and have the right to a family": Pope Francis states this in the documentary 'Francesco', presented today at the Rome Film Festival, as reported by the Catholic News Agency.
"What we have to do is a law on civil unions. That way they are legally covered," the Pope said, adding to "defend this".
The phone call from Pope Francis to a homosexual couple, with three small dependent children, in response to their letter in which they showed their great embarrassment in bringing their children to the parish.
"I read your letter it is a beautiful letter. Homosexual people - says the Pope in the documentary - have the right to be in a family. They are children of God and have the right to a family. No one should be expelled or made unhappy for this. . What we have to create is a law on civil unions. That way they are covered legally. I fought for it. "
Pope Bergoglio's advice to Mr. Rubera, reached by telephone, is to take the children to the parish anyway, regardless of any judgments.
All this is in FRANCESCO, a documentary dedicated to the Pope by Evgeny Afineevsky passed today at the Feast of Rome.
Very nice then the testimony of Juan Carlos Cruz, victim and activist against sexual abuse today present at the Rome Festival together with the director.
"When I met Pope Francis he told me how sorry he was for what had happened. Juan, it is God who made you gay and in any case he loves you. God loves you and the Pope also loves you."
The documentary ranges from pandemic to ecology, from sexual abuse to homophobia, from walls built to divide up to the injustice of poverty, from racism to women's emancipation.
And all this together with exclusive interviews with Pope Francis and great personalities around the world.
Afineevsky (Cries From Syria, Winter on Fire) explains: "When I made the film on Syria and Ukraine, I felt like I wanted hope and I thought of the Pope who, with his interventions, touched on all the painful topics of the present. indeed he can say that in this sense this documentary is not about him, but about the disasters of the world ".
And again the director who tomorrow will receive the Kinéo Movie for Humanity Award at the Vatican: "I was touched by him not as Pope, but as a person. He is a true Jesuit, a man of action, but also a true leader, something that missing a lot today ".
Many reactions from the political world.
'They are children of God and have the right to a family',
with these revolutionary words for the Catholic Church, Pope Francis opens the doors of the Vatican to homosexuals,
restoring them full citizenship and asking for laws to allow civil unions ". says the secretary of Più Europa,
Benedetto Della Vedova.
"We do not exploit the words of the head of the Church, but we hope that they will have an impact on those parties and politicians who, even in Europe, motivate their iron opposition with their Catholic faith to laws that guarantee a family for people of the LGBT community ".
"I am happy that even Pope Francis will receive a clear position in favor of the families of homosexuals. May his words be a warning for a widespread culture of mutual respect and advancement of the country".
This was said by
the mayor of Turin Chiara Appendino
about the Pontiff's declarations on the rights of homosexual couples.
For the mayor, these are "words of modernity, courage and foresight. We - she remembers on Facebook - have chosen to follow this path for some time, also filling in the regulatory gaps linked to the recognition of sons and daughters in their right to have both parents. May his words be a warning for a widespread culture of mutual respect and advancement of the country ".
"In a documentary screened at the Rome Film Fest, there are revolutionary declarations by Pope Francis on the need to recognize unions between homosexual people, to give a legal framework of protection to their family life: they are children of God, and have the right to a family, these are his exact words. Important words, which I am sure will warm the hearts of many and many homosexual believers. Even for the laity, however, they confirm that brotherhood, solidarity, equal social dignity and a sense of justice are universal and can cross, if there is good will, the boundaries between cultures and religions, as demonstrated by the latest encyclical "Brothers all": everyone and everyone, even LGBT + people. I find it very significant that the Film Festival of Rome - for years an opportunity for cultural and civil growth for the city - hosts such a strong message. now they think that to be good Christians one must exclude someone from the enjoyment of fundamental civil rights. Even in politics. ”This was stated by
Monica Cirinnà,
head of the Democratic Party's Rights Department.