In a major judgment signed by Pope Francis on Monday, the Vatican stated that Roman Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as long as they are not part of normal Church ceremonies or liturgies.
According to a letter from the Vatican’s doctrinal office, which effectively overturned a decision published by the same body in 2021, such blessings would not legitimize unusual situations but would be a sign that God embraces everybody. It should not be confused with the sacrament of heterosexual marriage, it said.
It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing”.
The pope hinted that an official change was in the works in October in response to questions put forward by five conservative cardinals at the start of a synod of bishops at the Vatican.
While the response in October was more nuanced, Monday’s eight-page document, whose subtitle is “On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings”, spelled out specific situations. An 11-point section was titled “Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same sex”.
The Church teaches that same-sex attraction is not sinful but homosexual acts are. Since his election in 2013, Francis has tried to make the more than 1.35-billion-member Church more welcoming to LGBT people without changing moral doctrine.
Father James Martin, a prominent American Jesuit priest who ministers to the LGBT community, called the document “a major step forward in the church’s ministry” to them.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Martin said the document “recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God’s presence in their loving relationships,” adding that “along with many priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex unions”.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, a group that advocates for LGBT rights in the Church, said the document’s importance “cannot be overstated”. He praised the document’s wording that people seeking blessings should not be subjected to “an exhaustive moral analysis”.
Martin Hardwick and Andrew Gibb of Manchester, England, who are married and have been together 41 years, said the move was long overdue.
“You know if Jesus said love was love, then love is love, isn’t it?” Hardwick said.
“It’s about time,” Gibb added.
