Pope comments on the document blessing gay couples
Pope Francis. Photo: CNN
On January 26, 2023, Pope Francis commented on the meaning of the controversial Fiducia Supplicans declaration, which prescribes the blessing of LGBT couples, to members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican news reports.
According to the Pope, the purpose of "pastoral and spontaneous blessings" is to "concretely show the closeness of the Lord and the Church to all those who, finding themselves in different situations, ask for help to continue—sometimes to begin—a journey of faith."
He stated that these blessings should be "outside of any liturgical context and form" and "do not require moral perfection to be received."
The pontiff also emphasized that "when a couple spontaneously approaches [a minister] and asks for them, he is not blessing the union, but simply the people who together have requested it."
Earlier, the UOJ discussed the Vatican's declaration on blessing gay couples in the article "Vatican and Same-Sex Couples: Do They Bless or Not?"
Read also
Met. Tikhon: 'Prayer for the Dead is One of the Great Acts of Christian Love'
His Beatitude offered a reflection for the Saturday of St. Demetrius and commemoration of the departed.
St. Jonah Orthodox Church Celebrates Centennial of Patron Saint's Repose with New Ordinations and Plans for a New Temple
Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal, Locum Tenens for ROCOR's Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, leads festal services to mark 100 years since the repose of St. Jonah of Manchuria.
Faithful in Cyprus Publish Open Letter in Support of Met. Tychikos of Paphos
Lay group hails hierarch’s stance on ecclesiological purity as a “patristic confession” and urges prayers for his strength amid ongoing trials.
Miraculous Kursk Root Icon on Visit to Western Europe
The most sacred icon of ROCOR is traveling around the Diocese of Great Britian and Western Europe for eight weeks.
Texas Doctor Who 'Transitioned' Children Surrenders Medical License
May Lau had previously been sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for providing prohibited “gender transition” treatments to nearly two dozen minors.
U.S. Couple Donates Relics of St. Arsenios to UOC Monastery
A sacred relic of St. Arsenios the Great was donated by a California couple to Ukraine’s Holy Dormition-Sviatogorsk Lavra, where it was solemnly received and venerated in a ceremony led by Met. Arseny.