“Not the union, but the people”
: Pope Francis defended Friday, January 26, the recent authorization of blessings for same-sex couples, while trying to appease virulent criticism within the Catholic Church itself.
In a document published in December, the Vatican authorized the blessing of
“irregular”
couples in the eyes of the Church, including remarried couples and same-sex couples, on the condition that it be carried out outside liturgical rituals.
Entitled
“Fiducia supplicans”
(
“The supplicant trust”
), this document from the powerful dicastery (ministry) for the Doctrine of the Faith has provoked an outcry among certain conservative prelates, particularly in Africa where homosexuality is still illegal in many countries. Many countries.
“These blessings (...) do not require moral perfection to be received
,” Pope Francis said on Friday during a speech to members of this same dicastery.
“When a couple requests it, we do not bless the union, but simply the people who asked for it together
,” he stressed, while critics particularly regretted the
“confusion”
caused by the document in the Church, which considers homosexuality to be a sin.
“The Lord blesses everyone”
The Argentine pope also stressed the importance of
“taking into account the context, the sensitivity, the places in which we live and the most suitable means to do so”
.
On January 14, in an interview on Italian television, Francis had already defended his text by affirming that
“the Lord blesses everyone”
.
At the beginning of January, the prefect (N.1) of the dicastery, Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, tried to calm people's minds by emphasizing the need to take into account
"the delicate situation of certain countries"
.
But the revolt was expressed at the highest level of the Church, with Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, an influential figure in the conservative camp, denouncing a
“heresy”
, while Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen, 92, called for departure of Mgr Fernandez.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has insisted on the importance of a Church open to all, including LGBT+ faithful, but his efforts have encountered strong resistance.