The Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples, despite protests

In a landmark decision, the Vatican has announced that Catholic priests can bless same-sex unions, though not everyone is happy with this decision.

Described as a radical shift by AP News, this change represents something of a break in the Catholic Church's stance on romantic relations.

However, according to Reuters, the Vatican document affirms that the blessing doesn't seek to equate same-sex unions to heterosexual marriage, which is a sacrament of the Catholic Church.

Instead, the ruling exhorts Catholic priests to consider such blessings on a “case-by-case” basis, allowing people “in every situation” to remain close to God.

However, it's been hinted that this decision has been brewing in the heart of the Catholic Church for some time.

In the past, Francis has hinted that the Church might bless same-sex unions if these weren’t conflated to sacramental marriage.

Back in October, the Pope called bishops from all over the world to gather in Rome in an assembly to discuss some of the Catholic Church’s most sensitive issues to date.

The gathering of bishops, formally called a synod, included for the first time the presence of women and laypeople who, according to The New York Times, would have a voice and vote.

According to Reuters, the Pope delivered a homily to 25,000 people in St. Peter’s Square the first day of the synod, where His Holiness specified that it was not meant to carry a “parliamentary meeting or plans for reformation”.

However, Francis added that the Catholic Church should avoid becoming “rigid” or “lukewarm” and that it should maintain its doors “open to all”.

Some consider Pope Francis one of the most progressive religious leaders as of late. However, one group is not happy about it: Catholic clergy from the United States.

Nonetheless, conservative Catholics have been wary about the synod, which is planned to formally discuss the most sensitive, controversial issues regarding the Church to date.

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Father Gerard Murray, a New York City priest who attended the synod, spoke of his concerns to The Washington Post: “The primary concern is that the Pope will authorize things that are not contained in Catholic doctrine or that will contradict it such as women deacons, blessing gay unions”.

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At least five conservative Catholic cardinals have publicly expressed in a letter their discontent with the Pope’s positions on certain matters.

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In a move described as “very rare” by Reuters, the head of the Catholic Church has dismissed Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas.

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The Guardian highlights that Strickland is a fierce critic of Pope Francis and supporter of former US President Donald Trump.

Neither the Vatican nor the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gave a reason for Strickland's dismissal. However, Reuters points out that the Texas prelate was asked to resign, which he refused.

According to The Guardian, in 2022 the Vatican defrocked Father Frank Pavone, a pro-Trump ultra-conservative priest, for posting “blasphemous” anti-abortion messages.

In August 2023, The Washington Post reports, Pope Francis argued that there was a “strong reactionary attitude” among US Catholics, argued that “they live by ideologies”.

What is true is that this could define the legacy of Pope Francis within the Catholic Church and the hundred of millions of Catholics around the globe.