By Philip PullellaVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Friday defended a Vatican document on blessings for same-sex couples but said they were not an approval of a lifestyle the Church sees as potentially sinful but of individuals seeking to get closer to God.
The pope said that while "moral perfection" was not required of people seeking such blessings, they were not intended to justify a relationship the Church considers irregular.
Francis stressed that such blessings should not be given in a liturgical context.
Since his election in 2013, Francis has tried to make the Church, with its 1.35 billion members, more welcoming to LGBT people, without changing moral doctrine.
Francis said that when the blessings are given, priests should "naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it".
Persons:
Philip Pullella, Pope Francis, Francis, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez
Organizations:
CITY
Locations:
Supplicating, Africa