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Image Credit: Portrait of Pope Francis (2021).jpg

Pope Francis has authorized priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples, marking a notable step forward for LGBTQ+ inclusivity within the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican clarified that these blessings, while allowed under certain conditions, should not be integrated into regular Church rituals or connected to civil unions or weddings.

The declaration underscores the Church's continued endorsement of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

This move, a reflection of Pope Francis's pastoral vision to broaden the Church's appeal, allows priests to bless relationships traditionally deemed sinful on a case-by-case basis.

The declaration emphasizes that recipients of blessings are not required to possess prior moral perfection, indicating a nuanced shift in the Church's approach to LGBTQ+ relationships while maintaining its fundamental doctrine on marriage