In a landmark ruling, Pope Francis has approved blessings for same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.
An 8-page document from the Vatican's doctrinal office regarding “On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings” was released on Monday which stated the conditions in which a priest is allowed to bless same-sex couples.
The document said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all. An 11-page section titled "Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same sex" in the document detailed the conditions.
It should in no way be confused with the sacrament of heterosexual marriage, the document added.
Roman Catholic priests can decide on a case-by-case basis and "should not prevent or prohibit the Church's closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing," it said.
The Church teaches homosexual acts as sinful.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has adopted several measures to make make the 1.3 billion-member Church more welcoming to LGBT people without changing moral doctrine on same-sex activity.
Reacting to Vatican’s new document, Father James Martin, a prominent American Jesuit priest who administers to the LGBT community, called it "a
major step forward in the church's ministry" to them.
Taking to X, Martin said the document "recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God's presence in their loving relationships." Along with many priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex unions, he added.
The document, whose Latin title is Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), said the form of the blessing "should not be fixed ritually by ecclesial authorities to avoid producing confusion with the blessing proper to the Sacrament of Marriage".
It said it can be applied to those who "do not claim a legitimation of their own status, but who beg that all that is true, good, and humanly valid in their lives and their relationships be enriched, healed, and elevated by the presence of the Holy Spirit".
"Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God," it said.
