The pope has granted priests the authority to bless same-sex couples, a huge step forward for LGBT individuals in the Roman Catholic Church.
Under some conditions, the Roman Catholic Church's pope believes priests should be allowed to bless same-sex and "irregular" marriages.
However, the Vatican has stated that blessings should not be part of normal Church procedures or associated with civil unions or marriages.
It went on to say that it still considers marriage to be between a man and a woman.
On Monday, Pope Francis authorized a Vatican letter announcing the change. The Vatican said it should be a symbol that "God welcomes all," although the text adds priests must make individual decisions.
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the Church's prefect, stated in introducing the statement that the new proclamation remained "firm on the Church's basic doctrine about marriage."
However, he said that the new rules will allow priests to bless partnerships that are still considered immoral, in keeping with the Pope's "pastoral vision" of "broadening" the Catholic Church's appeal.
According to the proclamation, anyone receiving a blessing "should not be required to have prior moral perfection."
A blessing in the Catholic Church is a prayer or appeal offered by a clergyman requesting God to look favorably on the person or people being blessed.
Cardinal Fernández emphasized that the new position does not recognize same-sex couples' status in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
The announcement shows a softening of the Catholic Church's tone, but not a shift in viewpoint. The Pope stated in 2021 that priests could not bless same-sex weddings because God cannot "bless sin."
In October, Pope Francis stated that he was open to the Church blessing same-sex marriages.
Bishops in several countries have previously permitted priests to bless same-sex couples, but Church authorities' positions have remained ambiguous.
BBC source
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