Pope Francis Calls African Society A 'Special Case' Regarding The Blessing Of Similar Couples

Pope Francis. (Wikimedia Commons/Aletia Image Department)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis said in an interview published on Monday, Africans were "special cases" in opposition to bishops and many people on the continent to homosexuality.

But he believes that, except for Africans, those who criticized his decision to allow blessing for same-sex couples will eventually understand this.

"Those who protest strongly are small ideological groups," Pope Francis told the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

"Special cases happen in Africa, for them homosexuality is something 'bad' from a cultural point of view, they don't tolerate it," he explained.

"But in general, I believe that gradually everyone will be convinced by the spirit of the declaration of 'Fiducia Supply' by Dikasteri Teaching Iman: this declaration aims to unite, not divide," said the Pope.

Blessings were allowed last month in a document called the Fiducia Supply (Supplicing Trust), which has led to widespread debate in the Catholic Church, with very strong resistance coming from bishops in Africa.

Last week, Pope Francis acknowledged the rejection of the document, particularly in Africa, in which bishops effectively rejected it and in some countries, same-sex relations could result in imprisonment or even the death penalty.

The Pope said that when blessings are given, priests must "naturally consider the context, sensitivity, the place where a person lives and the most appropriate way to do it".

In an interview with La Stampa, Pope Francis said he was not worried about the risk conservative groups would separate themselves from the Catholic Church because of his reforms, saying talks about divisions were always led by small groups

"We have to let them do it and keep going forward and looking forward," he said.

Also last week, the Pope said the blessing given to same-sex couples was not the approval of a lifestyle that the Church considered to be potentially guilty, but for individuals who wanted to get closer to God.

The meaning of the blessing, the Pope said, is "to concretely show the closeness of God and the Church to everyone who, finding themselves in different situations, asks for help to continue or sometimes to start the journey of faith."

The church teaches that same-sex relationships are sin and unnatural, that people with same-sex interests, who are not considered guilty, must try to be holy.

The Pope said that although "moral perfection" is not required of people seeking such blessings, it is not meant to justify relations deemed unnatural by the Church.

"When a couple comes spontaneously to ask for it, the blessed is not the unity, but the people who together ask for it. Not the relationship, but the people," the Pope said.

Pope Francis stressed that such a blessing should not be given in the context of liturgical. The document says blessings must be given secretly and never with the splendor or ceremonial equipment found at weddings.