Pope's Approval of Same-Sex Blessings Sparks Controversy and Reaction
Pope Francis, after approving blessings for same-sex couples, urged Vatican staff to avoid "rigid ideological positions" and to listen to one another and to others in order to truly serve the Catholic Church. He emphasized the importance of advancing and growing in understanding, rather than fearfully sticking to rules. The pope's annual Christmas greeting to the Vatican hierarchy came in the same week he formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, reversing a previous Vatican policy. Progressives and advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion welcomed the decision, while conservatives and traditionalists criticized it.