Pope Francis has reaffirmed his support for the pastoral care of same-sex couples while acknowledging the cultural challenges faced by the Church in Africa, where homosexuality is widely rejected and criminalized.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, published on Monday, the Pope said he was confident that his decision to allow non-liturgical blessings for gay couples, announced last month in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), would be understood by most Catholics as a gesture of inclusion, not division.
“Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups,” Francis said. “A special case is Africans: for them, homosexuality is something ‘bad’ from a cultural point of view, they don’t tolerate it”.
“But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide,” the Pope said.
The document, which was approved by the Pope, states that “God himself never ceases to bless each of his pilgrim children in this world” and that “he does not abandon anyone”. It also clarifies that the blessings do not imply any recognition or validation of same-sex unions by the Church, nor do they change its perennial teaching on marriage.
The Pope’s endorsement of the document has sparked controversy and criticism, especially from some African bishops, who have expressed their strong opposition and disappointment. The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), an association of Catholic bishops on the continent, said in a letter that the Pope’s decision “caused a shockwave” and “has sown misconceptions and unrest in the minds of many”.
“We, the African bishops, do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples because, in our context, this would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities,” the letter said.
Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries, where some of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws have been passed. In some cases, same-sex relations can lead to prison sentences or even the death penalty. According to a 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center, more than 90% of the population in most African countries say homosexuality should not be accepted by society.
The Pope, however, said he was not worried about the risk of a schism or a breakaway from the Catholic Church due to his reforms, saying that such threats are always led by “small groups”.
“We must leave them to it and move on…and look forward,” he said.
He also said he hoped for a dialogue with the African bishops, whom he praised for their “great pastoral zeal”. He said he understood their cultural difficulties, but he also urged them to be open to the “signs of the times” and the “voice of the Spirit”.
The Pope also spoke about other issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his health, his upcoming trips, and his meeting with the president of his native Argentina, Javier Milei, on Feb. 11.
He said he was looking forward to visiting Argentina, where he has not returned since becoming pope in 2013, and that he had a “good relationship” with Milei, despite their differences on economic and social policies.
He also said he was recovering well from his surgery on his colon last July, and that he felt “fine”.
Source: Reuters
