The Pope, on the EU's attempt to protect homosexual marriages: “things that do not fit in the nature of the Church should not be imposed”

Pope Francis, as always happens on return flights from his travels, drew the curtains of the economy class and appeared to answer questions from journalists.

It was the last trip of a Pope with the Alitalia company after 57 years and 171 uninterrupted trips around the world.

But this time, the short duration of the transit between Bratislava and Rome - for four days he had visited Hungary and Slovakia - allowed few questions.

Asked about the request of the European Union to promote laws to allow marriages between homosexuals, he repeated that "the Church does not have the power to change the sacrament." “They are laws that try to help the situation of so many people with diverse sexual orientation. And that is important, but without imposing things that do not fit in the nature of the Church. If they want to lead a life together, the States have the possibility to support them civilly and give them security. The law is fine ... but a marriage is a marriage. And as a sacrament it is clear ”, he pointed out.

Francisco spoke of his meeting with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, in which, he said, they only talked about ecology and family. He also commented on the papal plane about his vision of the European Union - which he asked not to become "a management office" -, of the "deniers of the College of Cardinals" and of the refusal of some American bishops to give communion. to President Joe Biden for his pro-abortion positions. “Communion is not a prize, it is a gift, a gift. I have never refused to give it, "he said.

Francisco was somewhat ambiguous with the Biden issue and assured that the bishops should not make political decisions, but pastoral ones. But he was very forceful in his vision of abortion and of those who practice it. “Abortion is a homicide. Without half words. Whoever aborts, murders. Take any embryology book. By the third week of conception, before the woman sometimes realizes it, all the traits are in, including the DNA. It is a human life and that human life has to be respected. To those who cannot understand it, I would ask two questions: Is it fair to murder a human life to solve a problem? Is it fair to hire a hit man to solve a problem? Let's not walk around with strange things, scientifically it is a human life. That is why the Church is so tough on this argument: if it accepts that, it is as if it accepts daily homicide ”, he pointed out.Francisco, yes, left in the hands of the theologians the decision on whether or not communion should be given to those who abort.

The division that arouses in some communities, such as Slovakia, the vaccination process still leaves the Pope perplexed, who has asked in several homilies that people undergo vaccination.

In fact, he admitted that in the "college of cardinals there are also deniers", cardinals who refuse to inoculate themselves with the serum against covid-19 and who deny its existence.

Francis recalled the case of Cardinal Raymond Burke, of the extreme right wing of the Church and one of its main opponents.

The cardinal opposed the vaccination, but ended up seriously ill and admitted to the hospital for covid-19.

"Ironies of life", slipped the Pontiff.

"In the Vatican we are all vaccinated, except for a small group ... We are seeing how to help them."

Last papal flight with Alitalia

As soon as he took the flight to Budapest last Sunday, Pope Francis appeared from behind the curtains of the first class, took the bus, as he usually does, and almost caused a heart attack in the journalists who were traveling with him. "It is a trip with the flavor of farewell ...", he said, making one fear a resignation like that of his predecessor. "Alitalia leaves us."

The Italian airline, which will stop flying on October 15 to become another smaller company, has been exclusively in charge of bringing popes to the sky every so often for 57 years. The first trip was made by Paolo VI to the Holy Land. Then came 168 more trips from the following popes. The last, will remain for history, has been that of Hungary and Slovakia, which will close the link between the Bishop of Rome and the Italian-flagged airline.

Paolo VI made nine trips during his pontificate; John Paul II reached 104 and Benedict XVI stayed at 24. Francis is already at 34, and has already scheduled another two for this year. Displacements to be made with a company yet to be determined.

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