Leo: Sexuality not ‘only moral issue’

Pope Leo XIV criticized on Thursday a German cardinal’s recently unveiled plans to move forward with same-sex blessings, while urging Catholics to broaden the scope of moral issues under discussion in the Church.

“The Holy See has made it clear that we do not agree with the formal blessing of couples, in this case, same-sex couples… or of couples in irregular situations, beyond what Pope Francis has specifically permitted by saying that all people should receive the blessing,” the pontiff said during an April 23 press conference aboard the papal plane returning from his 11-day trip to Africa.

Leo was responding to a question about plans announced by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, to formalize blessings for same-sex and other irregular couples in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, while requiring clerics unwilling to perform them to refer those requesting a blessing to another priest or pastoral worker.

While addressing the German issue, Leo also called Catholics to a wider focus of attention.

“I believe it is very important to understand that the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual issues. We tend to think that when the