Pope Francis, with the exception of Africans, whom he referred to as a “special case,” has expressed confidence that those who criticize his decision to grant blessings to same-sex couples will eventually come to understand it.
According to Reuters, Pope Francis said in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa that was released on Monday that homosexuality is seen negatively by Africans from a cultural standpoint.
Those with strong protests tend to be members of narrow ideological circles. Africans are a special case; they do not accept homosexuality because it is viewed negatively from a cultural perspective.
“But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide,” he said.
Last month, a Vatican document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which allowed blessings for same-sex couples, sparked widespread debate in the Catholic Church and around the world.
Blessings, however, should not be connected to marriage or civil unions or included in regular church ceremonies, according to the Vatican.
It made clear that it still sees marriage as a union of a man and a woman.
Reuters reports that last week, Francis appeared to acknowledge the backlash the document caused, especially in Africa, where engaging in same-sex activities can carry serious penalties like incarceration or even the death penalty.
Priests should “naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it,” he said, when bestowing blessings.
The Nigerian Catholic Bishops Conference declared that Catholic churches would not bestow blessings on same-sex couples.
“That would go against God’s law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation, and the cultural sensibilities of our people,” they said in a statement.
According to the bishops, there was a misinterpretation of Pope Francis’s decision to allow the blessing of same-sex marriage.
“The Declaration reinforces the truth about God’s mercy. For one to willingly ask for a blessing demonstrates one’s trust in God and the desire to live according to God’s commandments.
“Asking for God’s blessing is not dependent on how good one is. Imperfection is the reason for seeking God’s grace.
“Therefore, those in irregular unions are invited never to lose hope but rather to ask for God’s grace and
mercy while remaining open to conversion.”
