The Holy Father emphasized that these blessings, which come “outside of any context and form of liturgical character, do not require moral perfection to be received.”
“When a couple spontaneously approaches to ask for it, the union is not blessed, but simply the people who have requested it together. Not the union, but the people, naturally taking into account the context, the sensitivities, the places in which one lives and the most suitable ways to do so,” Pope Francis continued.
Francis’ remarks come amid continuing controversy over the Fiducia Supplicans document, which has been met with widespread criticism and concern centered on how it might be misconstrued.
Most recently, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, wrote on his blog on Jan. 23 that Fiducia Supplicans “creates confusion” and “leaves many questions unanswered.” The 92-year-old cardinal went on to say that if DDF prefect Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández “is committing a heresy by claiming a serious sin as ‘good,’ then shouldn’t the prefect resign or be dismissed?”
Speaking of the broader mission of the DDF, Pope Francis referenced a letter he sent on July 1, 2023, to Fernández upon his appointment as prefect.
“I underlined the importance of the presence of competent professionals within the disciplinary section, to ensure attention and rigor in the application of the current canonical legislation,” Pope Francis said, “in particular in the management of cases of abuse of minors by clerics, and to promote canonical training initiatives for ordinaries and legal practitioners.”
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