Woke Pope Francis has reaffirmed his support for same-gender civil unions. The Pontiff wrote that “it is right.” According to the Pope, couples “who live the gift of love can have legal coverage like everyone else.” This is just one of the dozens of comments the Pope has made in support of LGBTQ rights. The comments were made earlier this year, as the pope was promoting an autobiography titled Life: My Story Through History.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published excerpts from the book which was written with help from a journalist-friend of the pope’s, Fabio Marchese Ragona. The biography covers Francis’ involvement in world events. It explores topics including his grandparents’ migration to Argentina, his Communist professor, struggles during Argentina’s “Dirty War,” the pope’s love for soccer, and trials in Jesuit life.
The pope used the opportunity to make his opinions known on controversial topics. The excerpts in Corriere della Sera, discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion. Francis defended his support both for civil unions and Fiducia Supplicans. This is the controversial Vatican declaration allowing queer couples to be blessed. The comments were translated and provoked outrage from Catholics worldwide.
He said, on the matter of civil unions, “It is right that these people who live the gift of love can have legal coverage like everyone else. Jesus often went out to meet people who lived on the margins, and that is what the Church should do today with people from the LGBTQ+ community, who are often marginalized within the Church” he said “Make them feel at home, especially those who have received baptism and they are to all intents and purposes part of the people of God. ”
He added, “And whoever has not received baptism and wishes to receive it, or who wishes to be a godfather or godmother, please be welcomed.” He went on to say, ” I just want to say that God loves everyone, especially sinners. And if brother bishops decide not to follow this path, it does not mean that this is the antechamber of a schism, because the doctrine of the Church is not called into question.”
Later, on the topic of inclusion generally, he said, “I imagine a mother Church, which embraces and welcomes everyone, even those who feel wrong and those who have been judged by us in the past. I think of homosexual or transgender people who seek the Lord and who have instead been rejected or chased away” the Pope explained. He added that he has no plans to resign, despite calls from the rest of the church to step down.
There is yet more about LGBTQ+ Catholics in the memoir too. In it, for example,e Pope Francis was adamant that he was not considering resigning because there are currently no “serious reasons” exist “despite moments of difficulty.” That stands quite in contrast to previous Popes, who referred to same-sex attraction as “intrinsically disordered,” however, Francis has said he sees in such couples “the gift of love” worthy of care and protection.
So, this new document softened the official stance of the Catholic church. According to this latest ruling, people with same-sex attractions are not banned from pursuing the priesthood in Italy. While the guidelines stress priests have an obligation to “welcome chastity as a gift, to freely choose it and live it responsibly in celibacy,” the new documents still represent a massive shift.