Pope Francis declared in an interview published on Monday that Africans represented a “special case,” despite the disapproval of bishops and many others on the continent who did not support homosexuality, Reuters reported.
“Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups. A special case are Africans: for them homosexuality is something ‘bad’ from a cultural point of view, they don’t tolerate it. But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide.”
The blessings were authorised last month in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which sparked widespread debate in the Catholic Church, especially among African bishops.
Francis acknowledged last week that the document had received opposition, especially in Africa, where bishops effectively rejected it and where in some countries same-sex relationships can lead to imprisonment or even the death penalty. He noted that when blessings were given, priests should “naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it.”
He also claimed he was not concerned about the risk of conservatives separating from the Catholic Church over his reforms, arguing that schism talks were always driven by “small groups.”
We must leave them to it and move on… and look forward.
Francis confirmed that he is scheduled to meet with the president of his native Argentina, Javier Milei, on February 11. The Pope stated that his 2024 programme currently included trips to Belgium, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, despite “some aches and pains” associated with his medical condition.
