Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Bes ungu has renewed his criticism of the blessing document "Fiducia supplicans".
The declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published in December 2023 had "caused great harm to the Catholic faithful and even beyond", Ambongo Besungu told the US church portal"OSV News" (Tuesday).
The paper had triggered "reactions from all sides", including "angry laity, priests, religious and bishops who were also angry", explained the President of the Bishops' Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
"I believe that Fiducia is a bad chapter in the history of Pope Francis," said the cardinal. The document had been published between the two sessions of the World Synod. "The least we expected was that it would at least be discussed at the synod."
However, the document was not discussed there.
Francis has changed his mind
Ambongo Besungu went on to explain that he had published the statement by the African bishops not to follow the declaration of blessing and to continue to reject the blessing of homosexual couples with the permission of Pope Francis. He had brought the document to Rome himself.
"On the day I arrived, Pope Francis received me. We talked about it and I believe that he changed his mind from that point on," said the cardinal.
The Pope understood "that it was a mistake on his part", said the cardinal.
Ambongo Besungu described the new Pope Leo XIV as a "man who speaks very little but listens a lot."
When making important decisions that affect the majority of the faithful, popes should "listen a lot before making a decision in order to avoid what we have experienced with 'Fiducia'".
The"Fiducia supplicans" declaration was drawn up by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; Pope Francis had authorised its publication. For the first time, it allows priests to bless unmarried, remarried and homosexual couples under certain conditions.
While numerous European bishops supported the declaration, the document was also criticised. Cardinal Ambongo Besungu is one of the most prominent critical voices.
In July, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Faith, declared that there would be no changes to the document and the practice of blessing under the new Pope Leo XIV.