Pope Leo XIV has indicated that he will maintain the Catholic Church’s current position on LGBTQ+ issues, reaffirming support for informal blessings for same-sex couples while ruling out any move towards formal recognition. The remarks were made at a press conference on 23 April, after an 11-day tour of Africa.
In his comments, Leo made clear that the Vatican would not go beyond the framework set under Pope Francis in 2023. That policy allows non-liturgical blessings for same-sex couples, but stops short of recognising those relationships in any way that resembles marriage.
“First of all, I think it’s very important that the unity or division of the church should not revolve around sexual matters,” Leo said. He went on to argue that the Church too often treats sexuality as the dominant moral issue, when questions of justice, equality, freedom for men and women, and freedom of religion should carry greater weight.
While the remarks suggest continuity rather than a fresh crackdown, they also underline the limits of the current Vatican position. LGBTQ+ Catholics may be welcomed pastorally, but same-sex couples remain excluded from any official recognition by the Church. That final sentence is an inference drawn from Leo’s reaffirmation of the existing Vatican framework.
In practice, the message is one of managed stability: no reversal of Francis-era informal blessings, but no significant liberalisation either. For Catholics hoping Leo might move the Church closer to affirming same-sex relationships more fully, this appears to be an early sign that he does not intend to do so. That final sentence is also an inference based on the position he outlined.
