Catholic Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow, has dismissed reports suggesting that the Vatican now welcomes homosexuals into the priesthood, calling them misleading.
However, his rigid interpretation appears increasingly out of step with the broader direction of the Catholic Church under Pope Francis, who has signalled a more inclusive approach in recent years.
The controversy arose after a Reuters report cited an Italian Bishops’ Conference (CIE) directive, published on January 9, which suggested that the Vatican had approved new guidelines allowing gay men to enter seminaries, provided they remained celibate. While many saw this as a sign of the Church’s evolving stance on LGBTQ+ issues, Archbishop Pezzi strongly rejected that interpretation, insisting that the Church’s traditional ban on homosexual clergy remains firmly in place.
“First and foremost, it must be clearly stated that the information repeated by numerous news agencies following Reuters is not accurate,” Pezzi told Kommersant on Monday.
The updated CIE guidelines state in point 44 that seminary directors should consider a candidate’s sexual orientation as “one aspect of his personality.” This wording was widely viewed as a softening of the Vatican’s approach, but Pezzi dismissed this interpretation, claiming it was misleading and did not represent any real change in Church doctrine.
However, Pezzi’s insistence on the strict exclusion of gay priests contrasts with Pope Francis’ more nuanced and compassionate rhetoric. The Pope has repeatedly expressed openness to LGBTQ+ individuals within the Church, famously stating in 2013, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay clergy. More recently, the Vatican under Francis has taken steps towards greater acceptance, including allowing priests to bless same-sex couples—a move that has sparked internal debate among conservative factions.
Despite these shifts, Pezzi remains adamant that the Church still upholds its long-standing opposition. He reiterated that homosexual acts are considered “a grave form of depravity” and insisted that the Church “cannot admit to the seminary and to Holy Orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture.”
The Moscow-based archbishop’s stance aligns with more conservative elements of the Catholic hierarchy, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe, where opposition to LGBTQ+ inclusion remains strong. However, his position puts him increasingly at odds with the Vatican’s broader efforts to modernise its approach to sexuality.
While Pezzi maintains that homosexual tendencies can be “healed through a return to God,” Pope Francis has actively encouraged the Church to treat LGBTQ+ individuals with dignity and respect. The Vatican’s recent decisions suggest a slow but clear shift towards a more inclusive approach—one that Pezzi and other conservative clerics appear unwilling to acknowledge.