Pope: Blessing of gay couples is aimed at ‘the people’

Papa Francisco He claimed today that the blessing for same-sex couples, approved by a recent Vatican document, was aimed at “the people”, in a closed-door meeting with the Roman clergy, who expressed their doubts on the subject.

“The Pope (…) clarified the situation a bit. The intention is to bless people,” the Vicar Bishop of Rome summarized on Italian public television RAI at the end of the meeting. Angelo De Donatis.

The Pope and the Bishop of Rome, yesterday suffering from mild bronchitis, gathered today in the Roman Basilica of St. John Lateran for more than 800 priests, deacons and nuns to discuss some important topics and decide to answer your questions.

The official media “Vatican News” reported that Francis clarified that these blessings do not change the teaching on the sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman and that in short “People are blessed, not sin” according to the mentioned portal.

Also, when asked by an African priest, the Pope admitted that African culture does not accept these blessings – in many of its countries homosexuality is a crime – and that the debate has already been clarified to the Congolese cardinal. Fridolin Ambongo.

The Diocese of Rome specified that it was “an open and close dialogue in an atmosphere of cordiality” in which, in addition, the Pope announced that he would continue his visits to the parishes of Rome, after the last three meetings in some areas with problems..

The meeting with the clergy took place in the midst of a storm that was triggered by the possibility of granting a blessing to same-sex couples or those in an “irregular” situation from a canonical point of view, although without justification and equating it with marriage.

On December 18, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published a declaration “Fiducia Supplians” in which the possibility of a spontaneous blessing without a ceremony opened up for this type of couple.

This historic opening by the Pope Francisco He caused suspicions and certain divisions as part of the clergy around the world, his most conservative faction and bishops like those in Africa called him “blasphemy” and refused to share the blessing.

Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Cardinal of Guinea Robert Sarahone of the most critical of the Argentine pope, described the document as “heresy” and encouraged opposition to its implementation.

Prefect of the Congregation, Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandezhe defended in the text that “one can understand the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially confirming their status or changing in any way the Church’s long-standing teaching on marriage”.

Given the controversy, Cardinal Fernández had to clarify on January 4 that there would be no blessing of homosexual couples “liturgical or ceremonial” and that it will not imply its “justification”.