Aboard the papal plane returning from Portugal, Pope Francis reiterated the Catholic Church’s openness to all individuals, including the gay community, emphasizing the duty to accompany them on their personal paths of spirituality while adhering to the framework of Church rules. During his customary post-trip press conference, the 86-year-old pontiff responded to a reporter’s query regarding the apparent inconsistency between the Church’s openness and the denial of certain rights to women and gay people.
“The Church is open to everyone but there are laws that regulate life inside the church,” he explained, referencing the prohibition of women becoming priests through the sacrament of Holy Orders and the Church’s stance against same-sex marriage. He clarified that these regulations do not signify a closed stance, but rather that individuals encounter God in their own unique way within the Church.
Pope Francis acknowledged the need for Church ministers to accompany all individuals, including those who may not conform to the established rules, with the patience and love of a mother. Despite the Church’s teaching that women cannot become priests and that same-sex marriage is not permissible, the Pope has supported civil legislation that grants same-sex couples certain rights related to pensions, health insurance, and inheritance.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has consistently sought to foster a more welcoming and less condemnatory atmosphere within the Church, especially towards members of the LGBT community, while preserving the teachings urging individuals with same-sex attraction to maintain chastity. During the recent trip to Portugal, he echoed his sentiment that the Church embraces everyone, including those who make mistakes or struggle, leading the crowd in a chant of “Todos, todos, todos!” (Everyone, everyone, everyone!).
While the Pope’s efforts to implement reforms and increase the involvement of women in Vatican positions have been evident, he faces the challenge of striking a delicate balance between appealing to more liberal believers and avoiding controversy with conservative factions. Nonetheless, Pope Francis remains rejuvenated by the experiences at the World Youth Day Catholic festival in Portugal, finding inspiration in the orderly and sizable gatherings of approximately 1.5 million faithful who attended the closing Mass in Lisbon.