The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Leo XIV, said that the Vatican does not accept the further expansion of the practice of blessing same-sex couples in the Catholic Church, thus slowing down the more liberal approach that is developing in parts of Germany.
Speaking on the return flight from a multi-day visit to Africa, the pope stressed that the Vatican “does not agree with what goes beyond what Pope Francis has allowed,” and recalled his message that “everyone is welcome” in the Church, but without changing the doctrine on marriage.
This statement comes as a reaction to the practice in some German dioceses, where blessings of same-sex couples are already possible, including the Archdiocese of Munich and other parts of the country such as Limburg and Rottenburg-Stuttgart.
At the same time, more conservative dioceses such as Cologne, Regensburg and Passau reject such practices, emphasizing different interpretations of church guidelines.
The Pope pointed out that the morality of the Church cannot be reduced only to sexual ethics, but also includes broader issues such as justice, equality and freedom of religion.
He also reiterated that marriage in the Catholic Church is still defined exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, while same-sex marriage remains unacceptable according to church teaching.
During the same visit to Africa, the pope also spoke about migration, calling for a more humane approach to migrants and criticizing their inadequate treatment, stressing that “people must be treated as human beings.”
Pope Leo XIV, chosen as Pope Francis’ successor, continues to combine social issues and a more conservative approach within church doctrine, which is causing mixed reactions in the Catholic world.
(Vijesti.ba)
