The Pontiff critically spoke out against the blessing of homosexual couples by the German church, writes Bild.
Photo: Simone Risoluti — Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images
"The Holy See has made it clear that we do not agree with the formalized blessing of couples, in this case, homosexual couples or couples in an unusual situation, beyond what was permitted by [previous] Pope Francis when he said that everyone can receive a blessing."
This also applies to unregistered couples — or couples who are not in a church marriage.
Thus, the Pope is reacting to the actions of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, former chairman of the German Bishops' Conference.
Marx recently permitted the blessing of homosexual couples in his diocese of Munich and Freising. The basis for this was a recommendation by the German Bishops' Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics, adopted last year. He has already "spoken with the German bishops" on this matter, Leo XIV reported.
At the same time, Leo calls for unity: "It is very important to understand that the unity or division of the church should not revolve around issues of sexuality. We tend to think that when the church speaks of morality, it speaks only of sexual morality. In fact, I believe there are much larger and more important topics, such as justice, equality, the freedom of men and women, freedom of religion."
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