Pope Francis, a Catholic, has stated that anyone who disagree with his decision to provide blessings to same-sex couples will eventually come to accept it—apart from Africans, who he described as a "special case."
According to Reuters, Pope Francis stated that Africans had a bad cultural perception of homosexuality in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa yesterday.
Those with strong protests tend to be members of narrow ideological circles. Africans are an exception to this rule; they do not accept homosexuality since it is seen negatively in their culture.
However, in general, I hope that the spirit of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's "Fiducia Supplicans" declaration—which seeks to embrace rather than divide—will eventually comfort everyone. He asks people to embrace one another and then give themselves and other people up to God.
When asked if the trend raised concerns about a schism within the church, Francis said that "there were small groups that manifested reflections of schismatic color." You must let them go, move forward, and focus on the future.
In response to questions about his health difficulties in the last several years—which included hospital stays, problems with his mobility, and many cancellations of trips—the 87-year-old stated, "There are some aches and pains but it's better now." I'm alright.
Fiducia Supplicans, or the Suplicating Trust, a Vatican document that permitted blessings for same-sex couples, caused a great deal of controversy last month in the Catholic Church and throughout the globe.
Blessings, however, should not be connected to marriage or civil unions or included in ordinary church rituals, according to the Vatican.
The Vatican made it clear that it still saw marriage as a union of a man and a woman.
Reuters reports that last week, Francis appeared to acknowledge the backlash the document caused, especially in Africa, where engaging in same-sex activities may carry serious penalties including incarceration or even the death penalty.
Priests should "naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it," he said, while bestowing blessings.
It was stated by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that Catholic churches in the nation would not bless same-sex couples.
The CBCN stated in a statement that "that would go against God's law, the teachings of the Church, the laws of our nation, and the cultural sensibilities of our people."
The bishops assert that the decision made by Pope Francis to approve same-sex marriages has been misunderstood.
The Declaration affirms the veracity of God's kindness, it said. When someone voluntarily requests a blessing, it shows that they have faith in God and want to follow his or her commands.
"One's ability to ask for God's blessing is independent of their goodness. It is because of our imperfections that we need God's grace.
As a result, "those in irregular unions are invited to ask for God's grace and mercy while remaining open to conversion and to never give up hope."
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