"Pope Francis Reflects on Benedict XVI's Legacy Amidst Criticism and Remembrance"

Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, who served under Pope Benedict, stated that the recent Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-sex unions would not have occurred under Benedict's papacy due to its ambiguity. The Vatican's new policy emphasizes that while the Church's teaching on marriage as a union between a man and a woman remains unchanged, individuals seeking God's love and mercy should not be subjected to exhaustive moral scrutiny. The document encourages blessings as a means to nurture faith and openness to God's mercy, even for those in "irregular" unions, without exhaustive doctrinal or disciplinary judgments.