Pope Francis approves Catholic same-sex couple blessings but not marriage

Pope Francis has granted approval for Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, as long as the blessings do not endorse their marriages. The Vatican’s declaration, published in a document titled “Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings,” represents a significant departure from the 2021 decision stating that God “cannot bless sin” in relation to same-sex couples. However, the Vatican maintains that marriage is exclusive to a man and a woman. Pope Francis has been known for his more liberal stance on LGBTQ issues, calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality and stating, “Who am I to judge?” in 2013. The new document distinguishes between formal liturgical blessings and more informal, spontaneous ones.