Pope Leo XIV (Getty Images)

Pope Leo XIV indicated on Thursday (23 April) that he will maintain the Catholic Church’s current stance on LGBTQ+ issues, reaffirming support for informal blessings of same-sex couples while rejecting any move toward formal recognition.

Speaking at a news conference after an 11-day tour of Africa, the pope emphasised that the Vatican would not go beyond the framework established by Pope Francis in 2023, which allows non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, but stops short of endorsing marriage-like ceremonies.

“First of all, I think it’s very important that the unity or division of the church should not revolve around sexual matters,” Leo told reporters.

“We tend to think that when the church is talking about morality that the only issue of morality is sexual.

“And 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 continued.

While the remarks suggest continuity rather than change, they also underscore the limits of current Vatican policy which welcomes LGBTQ+ Catholics while excluding same-sex couples from official recognition.

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