Pope Francis has officially approved the drastic shift in Vatican doctrine that permits Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples.
An extensive moral study should not be imposed as a prerequisite before bestowing a blessing on someone who requests one, according to a letter from the Vatican’s doctrinal office that was made public on Monday. Since moral perfection should not be a prerequisite for receiving a blessing.”
Pope Francis made a public comment in October in response to cardinals who questioned his support of the LGBTQ population within the Catholic Church. At the time, LGBTQ campaigners praised the pope’s suggestion that same-sex unions could be blessed.
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, stated in October that “Pope Francis’ response is both unprecedented and compassionate and continues to urge every Catholic and leader toward acceptance and recognition of LGBTQ people.”
The pope’s speech, according to LGBTQ Catholic outreach organization New Ways Ministry, was a major step forward for LGBTQ Catholics’ inclusion in the church at the time.
At World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, in August, Pope Francis said to the hundreds of thousands in attendance that the Catholic Church is for “todos, todos, todos”—everyone, everyone, everyone.
MORE: Pope Francis reiterates that the Catholic Church welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals.
He responded, “There is still a place for everyone,” when asked if “todos” included the LGBTQ community.
Throughout his pontificate, Francis has maintained the church’s stance on dogmatic issues while softening the blow on individuals who disobeyed church doctrine, particularly with regard to LGBTQ persons. In 2013, on his way back from his first foreign trip as pontiff, a journalist questioned Francis about gay priests. The pope’s answer astonished everyone: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”
