Pope Leo XIV rules out further expansion of same-sex blessings

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed that the Catholic Church will not extend blessings for same-sex couples beyond the limited measures approved under Pope Francis, a position that has drawn concern from LGBTQ+ Catholics and their allies seeking fuller recognition within the Church.

Speaking to journalists on the flight back to Rome after an 11-day visit to North and Central Africa, Leo was asked about ongoing efforts in Germany to introduce more structured blessings for couples who are not in a sacramental Catholic marriage, including same-sex couples.

In 2023, Pope Francis authorised a Vatican declaration permitting priests to offer brief, informal blessings to same-sex couples and others in what the Church describes as “irregular situations.” The document explicitly maintained existing Catholic teaching on marriage and insisted that such blessings must not resemble a wedding rite.

Pressed on whether the Church might advance beyond that stance, Pope Leo replied: “The Holy See has made it clear that we do not agree with the formalised blessing of couples.” His remarks effectively rule out, at least for now, the kind of formal liturgical recognition that many LGBTQ+ Catholics have hoped would signal a more inclusive approach, Attitude reports.

The debate in Germany has involved bishops, theologians and lay reform groups advocating for stronger pastoral and liturgical support for same-sex couples, arguing that the Church should reflect contemporary understandings of human dignity, equality and committed relationships.

Pope Leo, however, insisted that internal Church disputes should not be centred on sexuality. “First of all, I think it’s very important that the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual matters,” he told reporters. He added that moral theology in the Church is too often reduced to questions of sexual ethics.

“In reality I believe there are greater and more important issues such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion that would all take priority before that particular issue,” he said, while nonetheless declining to endorse further steps toward equal treatment for LGBTQ+ Catholics.

The Pope cautioned against reopening or expanding the discussion on same-sex blessings at this time. “To go beyond that today, I think that the topic can cause more disunity than unity,” he said, urging Catholics to “look for ways to build our unity on Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches.”

For many LGBTQ+ believers and advocates, the comments highlight the continuing tension between the Church’s stated concern for human dignity and its refusal to grant same-sex couples equal sacramental or liturgical recognition. While the Francis-era reforms remain a modest symbolic opening, Leo’s latest intervention signals that, at the Vatican level, broader change on same-sex blessings is not on the immediate horizon.