Pope Leo XIV expected to uphold LGBTQ+ blessings amidst calls for inclusion

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, head of the Vatican's doctrine office, has indicated that the Catholic Church's approval of blessings for same-sex couples "will remain" under Pope Leo XIV.

The informal statement, made to an Italian reporter, suggests a continuation of the inclusive approach initiated by Pope Francis, who authorized the "Fiducia Supplicans" declaration in December 2023. According to National Catholic Reporter, this document opened the door for blessings of couples in "irregular" situations, including same-sex relationships, while clarifying that such blessings do not constitute a formal endorsement of same-sex unions.

While falling short of an official Vatican statement, Fernández's remarks offer reassurance to LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies who had feared a rollback of progress under the new papacy. The "Fiducia Supplicans" declaration, signed by Fernández and approved by Pope Francis, sparked considerable backlash from conservative factions within the Church. Some critics had hoped Pope Leo would rescind or disregard the policy.

Pope Leo has previously affirmed the traditional view of marriage as "founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman." He has also stated that “No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.”

While Pope Leo XIV has commented on some social issues in the past – including immigration policies of the Trump Administration and expressing sympathy for the death of George Floyd – he has made much less positive statements about the queer community. In 2012, then-head of the Augustinian order, he was critical of entertainment media that held “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,” including the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children”.

Although some conservative figures may hope for a reversal of the policy of blessing same-sex couples, the continuation of this policy will be celebrated as a step towards greater acceptance and inclusion within the Catholic Church.