He is not backing down.
Pope Francis, in a recent address to Vatican officials, urged a progressive approach devoid of rigid ideologies. His emphasis on evolving to better serve the Catholic Church marked his Christmas greeting to the Holy See hierarchy. Francis stressed the importance of continuous growth, cautioning against fear, rigidity, and monotony that can stagnate progress. He warned against fear-based adherence to rules, highlighting the need for vigilance against ideological positions that impede forward movement.
Addressing the division between conservatives and progressives, the pontiff emphasized the fundamental difference between those fueled by love and those who have lost their initial passion. He cautioned against the illusion of knowing everything and rigidly enforcing rules. Drawing attention to Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini’s wisdom, Francis underscored the importance of discernment over legalistic exactitude, advocating for pastoral adaptability.
Amidst this, the Vatican’s Doctrine of the Faith office released a declaration titled “Fiducia Supplicans,” broadening the understanding of blessings, differentiating sacramental blessings from pastoral ones. While reaffirming the Church’s stance on marriage as between a man and a woman, the declaration allowed for pastoral blessings for those seeking God’s grace, without altering the Church’s doctrine on marriage.
This move garnered varied reactions, with progressives and LGBT advocates welcoming it for inclusivity while conservatives criticized it for contradicting biblical teachings on homosexuality. The pope, in his address, didn’t directly reference this declaration but emphasized the need to move beyond the divisive labels of progressives and conservatives, urging discernment and open listening.
Notably, an archbishop in Kazakhstan formally rejected the Vatican’s guidance, denouncing it as promoting “gender ideology.” Additionally, several U.S. bishops reiterated the Church’s stance on marriage while clarifying that the recent guidance did not alter the Church’s official teachings on the subject.