Is the pope for gay marriage
What Pope Francis said about controversial issues from same-sex attracted rights to immigration
Pope Francis, one of the more progressive pontiff's in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Monday morning at the age of 88, the Vatican confirmed.
Francis’ willingness to take a more gradual stance on issues from LGBTQ rights to gay marriage to immigration craft him one of the most progressive and authoritative popes of the current era.
Here are memorable moments from Francis' time where he voiced his beliefs on those topics.
Francis' stance on members of the LGBTQ community
In December 2023, Francis formally signed off on allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, he said in a declaration released by the Vatican's office.
The declaration stated, "When people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it. For those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection."
"A blessing suggestions people a means to increase their trust in God. The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy and the closeness
Seven Quotes That Make Pope Francis Complicated for Queer People
Francis' tenure as pope has also been notable by the womxn loving womxn, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) community for his adoption of a more conciliatory tone toward LGBTQ+ people than that of his predecessors. "But anyone who utters Christian words without putting them into practice hurts oneself and others," said Pope Francis in 2013.
So where does Pope Francis remain on LGBTQ+ people?
ON INCLUSION
[07/2013]
"If they accept the Lord and hold goodwill, who am I to assess them?"
Let's start off with one of the most pivotal moments in Francis' papacy for Gay people. When asked about gay priests during a spontaneous exchange with the press, he responded, "If they [gay priests] accept the Lord and acquire goodwill, who am I to assess them? They shouldn't be marginalized. The tendency [same-sex attraction] is not the problem... they're our brothers."1
The fact that Pope Francis made such a comment – and used the word "gay" in English – was radical, and helped propel significant conversations in parishes and dioceses on LGBTQ+ equality to this day. But more importantly, his comment set the tone and a
Pope Leo XIV affirms family is based on union between a man and a woman, unborn has inherent dignity
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV affirmed Friday that the family is founded on the “stable union between a man and a woman,” and that the unborn and elderly enjoy dignity as God’s creatures, articulating clear Catholic teaching on marriage and abortion at the start of his pontificate.
Leo, the first American pope, also called for reviving multilateral diplomacy and promoting dialogue between religions in the search for peace, in his first meeting with the Vatican diplomatic corps. The audience was private, but the Vatican released Leo’s prepared communicate and that of the dean of the diplomatic corps.
The encounter is one of the protocol requirements after a conclave, allowing a new pope to greet representatives of world governments ahead of his formal installation Mass this Sunday. The Divine See is a sovereign state under international law, has diplomatic relations with over 180 countries and enjoys observer status at the United Nations.
Leo, a member of the Augustinian religious command, has emphasized tranquility as a priority of his pontificate, from the first words he uttered on the loggia
Pope Francis allows blessings for same-sex couples under certain conditions
The Vatican has approved a landmark ruling to allow Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples as drawn-out as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies, nor given in contexts associated to civil unions or weddings.
A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office approved by Pope Francis on Monday said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
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end of listThe document backed “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex” but “this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them”.
It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not
What’s the context?
Some LGBTQ+ Catholics are "disappointed" by the new pontiff's past comments on homosexuality
LONDON - The world was watching as Pope Leo XIV delivered his first mass on Sunday, days after becoming the first American elected pope.
Robert Francis Prevost has used his initial days as leader of the Catholic world to ring for peace in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of imprisoned journalists.
LGBTQ+ rights groups are now waiting to see if he will follow in the footsteps of the late Pope Francis, who met with trans women, urged the Catholic Church to explore forgiveness from gay people and allowed priests to bless same-sex couples.
Leo has not discussed LGBTQ+ issues since his election, but previous comments he made about homosexuality have "disappointed" members of the Gay faithful.
Here's everything you necessitate to know.
What is Francis' legacy on trans rights?
Francis, who died on April 21, was seen as more accepting of Diverse rights than previous popes, including his predecessor Benedict, who viewed gay marriage as a threat to the "future of humanity."
Soon after his election in 2013, Francis said male lover people should not be dis