Pope Leo XIV has responded to the recent initiatives promoted in Germany by Cardinal Reinhard Marx in favor of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples, reiterating that the Holy See does not approve of this type of practices in their formal form.
The Pontiff’s intervention, in the midst of the conversation with journalists during the return flight to Rome, comes after the Archdiocese of Munich issued pastoral guidelines to bless this type of unions, in line with the open debate of the German Synodal Way, where various bishops have defended these practices in recent years.
Blessing for people, not for unions
In his response, Leo XIV emphasized that the Vatican has already dialogued with the German bishops and has made its position clear: the blessing of couples - including same-sex or irregular ones - is not permitted beyond what is established by the Holy See.
The Pope distinguished between the blessing of people and that of unions.
He explained that the Church can bless “all people,” as happens in the final blessing of the Mass, but without that implying validation of situations contrary to doctrine.
Warning about the unity of the Church
Leo XIV also warned of the risk that this type of initiatives generate division within the Church. In his view, going beyond what is permitted could provoke greater disunity, so he insisted on the need to preserve unity around Christ and his teaching.
In this context, the Pope recalled that Christian morality cannot be reduced exclusively to sexual issues, pointing out other areas such as justice, equality, or religious freedom as matters of great relevance in the life of the Church.