Pope Leo XIV: Family based on “stable union between a man and a woman”

On May 15, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Vatican’s doctrine stating that marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman.

The Associated Press reported that Leo mentioned to Vatican diplomats that the family is founded on the “stable union between a man and a woman.” The installation Mass for the American-born pope, held in St. Peter’s Square, was attended by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and numerous other world leaders on Sunday, according to ‘Washington Blade’.

The College of Cardinals elected Leo earlier this month as the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.

Francis, originating from Argentina, actively opposed Argentina’s marriage equality law, which was enacted in 2010. He was serving as the archbishop of Buenos Aires, the nation’s capital, when the law was signed by then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

In 2020, Francis publicly expressed support for civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. By 2023, he stated that priests could bless same-sex couples.