Pope Francis says priests can bless same-sex couples, says 'exhaustive moral analysis' not needed

Pope Francis gave his approval for priests to bless "couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex," stating that when people ask for a blessing, an "exhaustive moral analysis" should not be carried out.

The Vatican's newest declaration elaborated on the response the pope gave earlier this year to conservative cardinals who had asked him for his input on the matter. At the time, the pope suggested he was open to blessing same-sex unions but that the Catholic Church should avoid any type of ritual that would suggest same-sex unions are recognized like traditional marriages. 

The more in-depth answer published Monday reaffirms marriage between a man and a woman, but states the Catholic Church "must shy away from resting its pastoral praxis on the fixed nature of certain doctrinal or disciplinary schemes."

"Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it. For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection," the declaration states. 

As recently as 2021, the Catholic Church had said its priests could not bless same-sex unions.

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