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Pope Leo Signals No Plan to Go Beyond Blessings for Same-Sex Couples
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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Pope Leo XIV affirmed that he will maintain Pope Francis’ 2023 policy allowing informal, non‑ritual blessings for same‑sex couples, but will not move to formalize or ritualize them, citing risks of causing disunity within the 1.4 billion‑member Church.
Pope Leo Upholds Francis' Policy, No Further Steps for Same-Sex Blessings
Pope Leo's Stance on Same-Sex Blessings and Church Unity
By Joshua McElwee
Papal Comments on Same-Sex Blessings
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT, April 23 (Reuters) - Pope Leo signaled on Thursday that he does not plan to go beyond efforts made by his predecessor Francis to offer Church blessings for same-sex couples, saying taking new steps could cause disunity in Catholicism.
The first U.S. pope praised Francis' landmark 2023 decision but said in comments aboard his flight back to Rome after a four-nation African tour that the Vatican does not want those blessings to be formalized further.
Concerns Over Church Disunity
"To go beyond that today, I think that the topic can cause more disunity than unity," Leo said in a press conference.
Background on Francis' Policy
Francis, who died in 2025 after 12 years leading the Church, allowed pastors to give blessings to same-sex couples informally outside of a ritual service, and on a case-by-case basis.
The decision provoked widespread debate in the Church, with bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa, refusing to let their priests implement it.
Reactions from Church Leaders
German Cardinal's Plan
Asked about German Cardinal Reinhard Marx's plan to formalize the blessings in his diocese, Leo did not specifically criticize it but referred to previous Vatican instructions to the German bishops' conference not to develop formalized rituals for same-sex blessings.
"The Holy See has made it clear that we do not agree with the formalized blessing of couples," said the pope.
Broader Issues of Church Unity and Morality
Leo also said that unity in the 1.4-billion-member Church should not revolve only around sexual ethics.
"We tend to think that when the Church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual," he said. "In reality, I believe there are much greater and more important issues such as justice, equality, (and) freedom of men and women."
Official Church Teaching
The Catholic Church teaches that sexual relationships outside heterosexual marriage are sinful. It says people with same-sex attractions should try to be chaste.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee, editing by Deepa Babington)
Key Takeaways
- •Pope Leo supports continuation of informal pastoral blessings for same‑sex couples under the guidelines of Fiducia Supplicans, avoiding formal rituals or liturgical context to prevent confusion with marriage.
- •He emphasized that expanding beyond current blessings could foster more disunity than unity, reflecting sensitivity to global Church divisions, particularly in regions like Africa.
- •Leo highlighted that Church unity should not be centered solely on sexual ethics; broader issues such as justice, equality, and freedom are equally critical.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pope Leo signals no plan to go beyond blessings for same-sex couples
1What is Pope Leo's stance on same-sex blessings in the Catholic Church?
Pope Leo stated he does not plan to go beyond Pope Francis' 2023 policy allowing informal blessings for same-sex couples.
2Why does Pope Leo oppose further formalization of same-sex blessings?
He believes taking new steps could cause more disunity than unity within the Catholic Church.
3What was Pope Francis' 2023 decision on same-sex couple blessings?
Francis allowed pastors to give informal blessings to same-sex couples outside of formal rituals on a case-by-case basis.
4What issues does Pope Leo prioritize alongside sexual ethics?
Pope Leo emphasized greater importance for issues such as justice, equality, and freedom of men and women.
5How did African bishops respond to the policy on same-sex blessings?
Some bishops in Africa refused to allow their priests to implement Francis' policy on same-sex blessings.
