The Vatican granted approval on Monday for blessings of same-sex couples, emphasizing they are not to be considered a Catholic rite or associated with civil unions or weddings.
In a document endorsed by Pope Francis, the Vatican supports blessings for couples in unconventional situations, including same-sex unions.
While the move reflects a broadening of the Vatican’s stance, it does not alter the Church’s position on same-sex marriages.
The document stresses that blessings should not coincide with civil union ceremonies.
The Vatican maintains that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman for procreation. It states, “This blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them.”
The head of the Vatican’s faith department, responsible for the document, noted in an introduction that it represents “a broadening and enrichment” of the Vatican’s stance on blessings, reflecting the pastoral vision of Pope Francis, who advocates for a Church open to all.
In 2021, the Vatican asserted that the Church lacks the authority to bless same-sex unions because God cannot “bless sin.”
The document on Monday upholds this stance, stating that to avoid confusion or scandal, blessings for same-sex couples cannot include elements proper to a wedding, such as clothing, gestures, or words.
Instead, it suggests that such blessings may find a place in other contexts, such as visits to shrines, meetings with priests, group prayers, or pilgrimages.
