«We tend to think that when the Church talks about morality, the only moral issue is sexual. In fact, I believe there are much bigger and more important issueslike the justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion, that they would all have the priority with respect to that specific issue.” Pope Leo’s response to a thorny issue on his return from a trip to Africa went almost unnoticed. The Pontiff responding to an uncomfortable question on decision of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich and Freising, to authorize the blessing of homosexual couples in his diocese and on the possible division on the topic within the universal Church, he clarified that «the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual issues» and adds a series of issues, such as justice, equality, freedom which should receive the attention and main commitment of believers. On the specific issue, then, after revealing that he had already spoken with the German bishops, clarifying that “we do not agree with the formalized blessing of couplesin this case homosexual couples, as you asked, or couples in irregular situations” he adds, however, that the blessing can be given in the forms permitted “by Pope Francis”. For example «when a priest imparts the blessing at the end of the Mass, when the Pope gives the blessing at the end of a great celebration like the one we had today, it is a blessing for all people. The well known Francis’ expression “Everyone, everyone, everyone” is an expression of the Church’s belief that everyone is welcome, everyone is invited, everyone is invited to follow Jesus, and everyone is invited to seek conversion in their lives. Going beyond today, I think the topic may cause more disunity than unity, and that we should look for ways to build our unity on Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches.”
