Pope acknowledges criticism, health issues but says in upcoming memoir he has no plans to retire
Vatican City AP Pope Francis says he has no plans to resign and isn’t suffering from any health problems that would require doing so, saying in a new memoir he still has “many projects to bring to fruition.” Francis, 87, made the comments in an autobiography, Life: My Story Through History, which is being published on Tuesday, the […]
Pope sees “hypocrisy” in those who criticise LGBT blessings
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis said he sees “hypocrisy” in criticism of his decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, possibly his most strongly worded defence of the move. LGBT blessings were authorised last month by a Vatican document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), but that has met with significant resistance in the Catholic […]
Jesuits in US bolster outreach initiative aimed at encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics
New York, US AP Even as Catholic dogma continues to repudiate same-sex marriage and gender transition, one of the most prominent religious orders in the United States – the Jesuits – is strengthening a unique outreach program for LGBTQ+ Catholics. The initiative – fittingly called Outreach – was founded two years ago by Rev James […]
Pope says Africans are “special case” when it comes to LGBT blessings
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis said in an interview published on Monday that Africans were a “special case” in the opposition of bishops and many other people in the continent to homosexuality. But he said he was confident that, except for Africans, critics of his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples would eventually understand […]
Pope says LGBT blessings are for individuals, not approval of unions
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis on Friday defended a Vatican document on blessings for same-sex couples but said they were not an approval of a lifestyle the church sees as potentially sinful but of individuals seeking to get closer to God. It was the second time in as many weeks that Francis sought to clarify […]
Next steps: Pope Francis’ synod made few waves, but organisers say it’s already changing the church
The controversy over blessing gay couples is just another example of synodality at work, according to Sr. Nathalie Becquart. CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports….
Pope defends same-sex blessings declaration, says it is misunderstood
Rome, Italy Reuters Pope Francis on Sunday defended a landmark decision approving blessings for same-sex couples, suggesting that those in the Catholic Church who have resisted it have jumped to “ugly conclusions” because they do not understand it. In a television interview, Francis made his first public comments since the 18th December declaration sparked widespread […]
Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval
Vatican CityReuters The Vatican on Thursday moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have balked over last month’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that the measure is not “heretical” or “blasphemous”. In a five-page statement, the Vatican’s doctrinal office also acknowledged that such blessings could be “imprudent” in some countries […]
Explainer – Five things the Catholic Church’s document on same-sex blessings does (and doesn’t) say
Vatican CityRNS In an unprecedented opening by the Catholic Church toward welcoming LGBTQ people, the Vatican’s Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith approved the blessing of same-sex couples on Monday in a document titled Fiducia Supplicans, or Requesting Trust. Pope Francis approved the document, formally called a declaration – a term that signals that […]
Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples in landmark ruling
Vatican CityReuters The Vatican said on Monday in a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular church rituals or liturgies. Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window, at the Vatican, on 17th December, 2023. PICTURE: […]