(Photo Credits: Benhur Arcayan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Pope Francis revealed that his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, supported his stance on civil partnerships for same-sex couples, according to excerpts from a forthcoming book set to be released in Spain, Reuters reports.
Although the book is scheduled for publication on Wednesday, details from its contents were disclosed in advance to various media outlets on Tuesday.
Pope Francis has reiterated the Catholic Church’s stance against LGBT marriages while emphasizing that same-sex couples deserve legal protection through civil union laws.
Throughout his 11-year papacy, Pope Francis has demonstrated a greater openness toward the LGBT community. However, his predecessor, the more conservative Benedict, was not widely regarded as supportive of this cause.
Despite their differences, Pope Francis disclosed that Pope Benedict defended him when a group of unnamed cardinals approached him to voice concerns about the pope’s views on civil partnerships, which they considered “heretical.”
Pope Francis said, “They showed up at his home to practically put me on trial and they accused me in front of him of backing same-sex marriage.”
Benedict XVI attentively listened and provided clarification to the concerned cardinals, affirming that Francis’ remarks on civil unions did not constitute heresy, the pope disclosed.
This revelation came to light in the Spanish-language book “Pope Francis. The Successor: My Memories of Benedict XVI,” which features interviews with journalist Javier Martinez-Brocal.
In February 2023, Pope Francis had previously mentioned Benedict’s dismissal of a complaint regarding his stance on civil unions, albeit with fewer specifics.
In December, Pope Francis stirred conservative controversy by permitting priests to bless same-sex couples, clarifying that this did not constitute official endorsement of non-heterosexual relationships.
There is no indication that Francis consulted with Benedict on this decision. Benedict, who unexpectedly retired in 2013, remained in the Vatican until his passing in late 2022.
In the book, Pope Francis refuted any suggestion of personal tensions with his predecessor during the unique “two popes” era.
He acknowledged experiencing challenges in his relationship with Benedict’s secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, particularly when Gaenswein published a critical book on Francis shortly after Benedict’s funeral.
Pope Francis said, “To publish a book that lays into me on the day of the funeral, telling things that are not true, is very sad.”
Pope Francis, now 87 and facing declining health, also talked about his funeral arrangements, expressing a desire to simplify burial rites for himself and future popes.
He outlined a departure from tradition, stating that the bodies of deceased popes would no longer lie in state before being placed in a coffin, a practice observed for Benedict and previous pontiffs. Read this story on Reuters in full here.
It is all about survival – not Piety. The Church is an institution and an institution needs sustenance. Sustenance is worshippers and followers. Without them, there can be no congregations and no coins or bills in the Sunday Basket. Survival depends on flexibility and flexibility demands practicality. Thus, The Church and its Hierarchal will adopt or perish: either do or die! The “Catholicism” of old has died out and “Catholicism” of today, is broad-based Christianity without the Specifics of Roman Catholicism. The Sacraments; The Ashes; The Abstinences; The Confessions; The Taking of Holy Communion, and the practices and rituals of… Read more »
Excellent, and your last line sums it all up perfectly! Thank you!
Guy:
Religiosity ran on both sides of my family!
My Paternal, Gay Uncle, Paul, was a Franciscan
&
My Maternal Grandmother’s Sister was a “Cloistered Nun” in Chile.
I grew up, sitting upon my Uncle Paul’s Lap,
while
he read
me
“The Old & The New Testaments”.
Kasper: similar religious environments — the Catholic Church, before it decided to make God “relevant” with all its performance, designer liturgies and lack of spiritual substance. I had to leave it. If I want to go to a picnic, or a circus, I’ll go to the beach, or to an amusement park — not to church.
No more Venial Sin;
No more Mortal Sin;
No more Hell;
No more Limbo;
No more Purgatory;
No more Heaven:
No more Confessions;
No more Born With Origin Sin;
No more Eternal Damnation, either!
LOL I could go without all of those anyway. They are useless beliefs. Ever try spirituality? That was something that was lacking in my religious experience, and it was even more difficult to find with all the modern changes in what used to be a sacred atmosphere.
HE SHOULD!!!
ALL THE DICK SUCKING AND FUCKING THEY DO AT THE VATICAN AND THE NEARBY PARK!
Pope Francis deals with the situation as Jesus did: deny nobody a blessing. Recognize the free will humanity of everyone. The Church itself has failed to recognize that Jesus knew exactly who He was healing when He healed the Centutmrion’s servant. The church leaders who argue with the Pope are like Pharisees, proud of rules and power and traditions. They are like Paul, who broke with Peter–the same Peter that Jesus repeatedly declared would lead the church–and taught personally, and got told “what you lose on earth is loosed in heaven” meaning that if a Pope, inspired by the spirit… Read more »
I understand your sympathy regarding this matter, but the only authority is Truth, and any organization, or institution that claims any authority “given by God”, is only basing its own authority on its own definition of God. Truth is the ONLY authority, not a religion, not a pope, not an individual. Any institution that claims to have a “God-given” authority is only looking within its own walls, and every time in history when such an institution claims to have this authority, conflicts, persecutions, wars, and death follow.
Please take down this article. Let us not be our own oppressors.
Too late.
We can be our own “Worst Enemy”?
or
We can be our own “Best Friend”?
The choice is ours – not God’s as he gave us –
both
Intellect & Free Will.
Actually, “intellect” is what puts humanity in a bad place. Intelligence is truly the pathway to Truth. Intellect divides, dissects, labels, categorizes, and in the case of this article, it separates everyone from everyone else. Intelligence is found in all living beings, but intellect is nothing more than absorbing what someone else has decided to be “true”, and those who adopt it, are simply following what someone else has determined as “truth”. After that, since there are so many people who have an intellectual concept of “truth” and who are confident in believing (pretending to know) what they think as… Read more »
Lmao, they’re fighting to exist, just like everyone else now. Difference being, everyone knows just how fraudulent they are on multiple levels.
“When the churches fall,” what out, somethings coming.
Organized religion is an industry. It needs lots of money so that it can tell people that their institution is necessary for something in the next life even though nobody knows what it is.
Oops, I meant to say, “when the churches fall,” watch out, it’s in the scriptures. End times, you know.
I just think it’s somewhat laughable, those fearing the end of the world “Armageddon” seem to be issuing it in, setting it up.
“Nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Lamar: yeah, they read the book and then they decided to follow its “prophetical” pattern. Whether or not “prophetical”, it is something to be seen, and in either case, it could be considered as a “warning” to become aware of one’s own life since there is nothing that each individual can do concerning the global situation. If we all individually became aware of who we are and all around us, then maybe there would never be an “Armageddon”.
Yep, Agreed, I’m acutely aware of my own actions, realizing that my actions, don’t only affect me. I.e., the fact that I’ve always used condoms, during anal-sex, even while in monogamous relationships, keeping myself HIV- means keeping others HIV- as well. In terms of our ‘dark sides’, which every human has, and being aware of, keeping that at an arm’s length as much as possible. But one has to own-up to it, otherwise, everyone else one encounters has to deal with it, thus spreading it, to point in which we find ourselves today. But that’s at the point of where… Read more »
End times? Biblically knowledgeable ones say we have checked all the boxes.
See, that’s what I sayin’ just being aware of the knowledge, firstly, keeping and taking note as these things unfold.
Church is where you find yourself; your congregation, is whom you find yourselves among, if so.
So, I’ve always continued to pray and will continue to. It’s not about being perfect or whatever, just ‘fully conscious’ as much as possible, for your own actions, toward others as well as yourself as respect.
And don’t you find that weird? Considering what Jesus was all about, whom he administered to and did not? I do.
Well, one thing is certain — Jesus had enemies and they were the religious leaders of his own religion.
BINGO, just sayin’, keep your eyes open (3rd one too) sounds like you do, too.
I’m not a Christain, though, see, I just grew-up in church; or as my mother said, “you go or get your own mortgage,” lmao, so glad she made us go every Sunday. I really got something out of it and not programming either, but to consider.
I’ll do the best that I “consciously” can, then when my time comes, “Thee” will decide ‘if’ I’m worthy.
Lamar: you have used the word “consciously” or “conscious” twice in your comments, and now, the “3rd eye”. OM…………….. 😉 I was raised in a strict Catholic environment, followed the religion to the letter, and often was treated like “trash” just like so many others in various religions. Consciousness is the only way to seek Truth, and in fact, if one is truly conscious and aware, Truth will rain down on us without even looking for it. 🙂
The Catholic Church has not been unyielding in its stances on issues over the years. Most recently, its stances on divorce, married priests, and the roles of women in the church have loosened. The recent Popes are using their wisdom when it comes to LGTBQ+ individuals. The (Catholic) Church of England shares Pope Franics’ views: Marriage is no; blessing are yes. Both support Civil Unioins. Some Christian denominations are divided. Lutherans and Methodists have undergone painful splits. Some Christian denominations are fully open; while others remain firm in their stances against the concept of LGTBQ+. The good news is that… Read more »
The Catholic Church is the original con game. A lot of promises that never have to be realized. The dead never can complain about being ripped off.
The bottom line here; they’ve sullied, themselves through the corruption of the ideology, the principles of Christianity.
Subsequently, no one really believes in religion, but many people, are opting increasingly for “spirituality,” which really means you believe, but on your individual terms, smart, more informed . . . another, form of, “WOKE.”
Honestly, it’s just another bastion, of white or European male domination, politically and otherwise, they’re too wealthy, for honest piety.
When, the churches fall . . .
Yep, organized religion is really just an industry, a social outlet. It can provide comfort, but it’s temporary, and even worse, what it calls “spirituality” is really what it teaches and believes in its doctrines — all mind “trash”, accumulated from others, books, superstitions, cultural evolutions, etc. It’s unfortunate what these religious institutions have done to millions of people throughout the ages, but some people, and I am one of them, wake up one day and they realize that they have been lied to from the very beginning concerning their true nature as human beings. One thing that drove me… Read more »