The document was bound to cause a stir in any Catholic quarters. But it was a storm of protest that swept across Africa in the days following the publication on December 18 of a "doctrinal declaration" authorizing the blessing (the act of invoking divine benevolence on one or more persons) of homosexual couples and "undocumented couples," including remarried divorcees.

This text from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Roman Curia institution responsible for overseeing Catholic dogma, entitled "Fiducia supplicans" ("Supplicant trust") was drafted by Cardinal Manuel Fernandez, head of the organization, but signed and approved by the Pope.

While advocates of the LGBTQ+ community rejoiced – particularly in Belgium and Germany, where the episcopate had called for such a step forward – representatives of the Catholic Church in Africa showed widespread defiance. This was expressed on December 20 in a letter written by the Archbishop of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, who is also president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, which brings together all the continent's senior clergy.

"The ambiguity of this declaration [of December 18], which lends itself to numerous interpretations and manipulations, is causing much perplexity among the faithful," he wrote. He asked the continent's bishops' conferences to give their opinion on the text signed by Pope Francis in order to "draw up a single synodal declaration, valid for the whole Church in Africa" – the aim being to be able to "issue a pastoral statement on the subject, which will serve as a general guideline for all the local Churches on our continent".

The blessing approved by the Pope does not mark an evolution in doctrine, but opens the way to new practices on the part of priests, asking them to be more welcoming towards the faithful and to bless same-sex couples outside any liturgical moment, provided that the blessing does not resemble a wedding.

However, this clarification was not enough to prevent hostility in several African countries. In Malawi, two-thirds of bishops signed a joint declaration refusing to perform blessings. Cameroon's senior clergy were also quick to "formally forbid" their priests from blessing homosexual couples. While the wording was less aggressive in Togo, where the episcopate recalls that "the Church recommends that people in same-sex relationships be welcomed with respect, compassion and sensitivity," the refusal to put the Pope's decision into practice is the same. In Lomé, priests are advised to "abstain" from blessing same-sex couples. Several other countries, including Côte d'Ivoire and Zambia, have also expressed their doubts about this pastoral evolution.

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