Pope in documentary for young people: ‘Sex is something beautiful’

Pope Francis has acknowledged that the Catholic Church has not developed much in its basic understanding of sex. The catechism is “still in a very early stage” on the subject, Francis said in a conversation with young women and men, which has been featured in a documentary on the Disney+ streaming service since this week.

We Christians have not always had an “adult” attitude to sex, the pope said. Sex is “one of the most beautiful things God has given us. Expressing yourself sexually is a wealth. Sex is a beautiful thing».

The pope met the ten young men and women last year for a documentary by Spanish filmmakers Jordi Évole and Marius Sanchez. Some of them are not believers or have left the church. For example, one woman said she used to be a nun, but felt psychologically abused for years. A man told how he was abused as a child by a member of the Catholic institution Opus Dei, who was later declared innocent by the Vatican.

In the film, which lasts almost an hour and a half, Francis also talks about abortion, women in the church, migrants, bullying and racism, but also about corruption and other imperfections within the church. He said, “The true Church is in the periphery. In the center there are good people, holy people, but also a lot of corruption. You have to admit that.”

When asked if there was room in the church for transgender, non-binary or LGBT people, Francis answered: “Every person is a child of God, everyone.” God does not reject anyone – nor should clergy in the Catholic Church. Francis said: «I have no right to throw anyone out of the church. The church must not close its doors to anyone.” (sda/dpa)