Pope grants priests permission to bless same-sex couples

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis has granted priests in the Roman Catholic Church the green light to bless same-sex marriages.

On Monday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had formally approved the blessing of same-sex couples, marking a significant stride towards fostering a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ Catholics.

This latest move is part of a series of changes to church doctrines that align with his vision of a more compassionate and flexible Catholic Church.

Traditionally, the Vatican had maintained that blessing same-sex couples contradicted the values of the Catholic Church. It emphasised that marriage was exclusively reserved for any union between a man and a woman.

Despite the recent announcement, not much has changed in reality.

Although the Pope’s stance extends well-wishes for those embarking on same-sex marriage, the Vatican’s statement points out that blessing a same-sex couple does not equate to performing a marriage sacrament, a formal ceremonial rite.

It also stated that the blessing was not granted or outwardly approving upon the relationship itself.