Pope Francis, returning to Rome from Portugal after attending the World Youth Day Catholic festival, reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s stance on being open to everyone, including the gay community.
He emphasized the Church’s responsibility to accompany individuals on their personal spiritual journeys while adhering to its established guidelines.
During a candid press conference on the plane, the 86-year-old Pope addressed questions from reporters, showcasing his good health after undergoing surgery for an abdominal hernia in June.
Pope Francis disclosed that his stitches had been removed, but he would need to wear an abdominal band for a few more months to strengthen his muscles.
One reporter raised concerns about the apparent contradiction between the Church’s openness to all and the restrictions faced by certain groups, such as women and gay individuals, who are not granted the same rights and access to certain sacraments.
Specifically, women are prohibited from becoming priests through the sacrament of Holy Orders, and same-sex couples are not allowed to marry within the Church.
In response, Pope Francis clarified, “The Church is open to everyone, but there are laws that regulate life inside the church.”
“According to the legislation, they cannot partake in (some) sacraments,” the Pope continued. “This does not mean that it is closed. Each person encounters God in their own way inside the Church.”
He further explained that the Church’s ministers are called to accompany all individuals, even those who may not conform to all the rules, with the patience and love of a mother.
Regarding the Church’s stance on women not becoming priests, Pope Francis stated that this tradition is rooted in the fact that Jesus chose only men as his apostles.
While the Church does not permit same-sex marriages or blessings for same-sex couples, Pope Francis does advocate for civil legislation that grants rights to same-sex couples in areas such as pensions, health insurance, and inheritance.
The Church maintains that same-sex attraction is not sinful, but same-sex acts are.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has sought to make the Church more welcoming and accepting, particularly to members of the LGBT community, while respecting the Church’s teachings on chastity for those with same-sex attraction.
At one event during his trip to Portugal, he reassured the crowd that the Church has room for everyone, “including those who make mistakes, who fall or struggle,” and led them in a chant of “Todos, todos, todos!” (Everyone, everyone, everyone!).
Reflecting on the World Youth Day Catholic festival in Portugal, Pope Francis expressed being rejuvenated by the large, orderly crowds, which numbered approximately 1.5 million attendees at the closing Mass in a riverside park in the Portuguese capital.
It is likely the Pope will continue to implement reforms that raise eyebrows in an attempt to appeal to a younger and more liberal sect while appeasing church members who take a literal stance on the bible and Catholic rules and traditions.
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