In a significant doctrinal evolution within the Vatican, Pope Francis has officially sanctioned Roman Catholic priests to perform blessings for same-sex couples.
The Pope approved a Vatican document outlining that blessings could occur as long as they don’t constitute regular Church rituals or ceremonies, and not concurrently with a civil union.
CNN reported the development, highlighting that this recent decision builds upon the Pope’s prior acknowledgment last October and marks a departure from the Vatican doctrine office’s 2021 ruling that prohibited any form of blessings, citing that God “cannot bless sin.”
Since July 2023, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, an Argentinian prelate and an ally of Francis, has led the doctrine department, striking a different tone from his predecessors.
“The declaration, co-authored by Cardinal Fernandez and another official, emphasizes that an exhaustive moral analysis should not be a precondition for granting a blessing when requested,” stated the document.
It added, “The grace of God is present in the lives of those who acknowledge themselves humbly as sinners, rather than claiming righteousness.”
While acknowledging the possibility of blessings for same-sex couples and couples in irregular situations, the document emphasizes that the discernment and decision-making on these matters rest upon the prudent judgment of ordained ministers.
