Pope Francis emphasized that Christian life is more than just avoiding sins of impurity.
This is one of the messages that the Pope delivered at his meeting with Portuguese Jesuits during World Youth Day.
But what I don't like at all, in general, is that we look at the so-called "sin of the flesh" with a magnifying glass, just as we did for so long about the Sixth Commandment. If you exploited workers, if you lied or cheated, it didn't matter, and instead 'sins below the waist' were relevant.
During the meeting, they also discussed the pastoral care of Catholics who have same-sex relationships. Pope Francis encouraged priests to have an empathetic approach.
We must not be superficial and naive, forcing people into things and behaviors that they are not yet mature enough for or capable of.
While Pope Francis has had official meetings with members of the transgender community in the past, he also noted that he maintains communication with some of them.
Another sensitive issue discussed during the meeting was the relationship between the Pope and Catholic sectors in the United States that criticize his decisions. The Pope responded saying “backwardism is useless.” He asked them to reflect on the teachings of St. Vincent de Lerins of the 5th century who said there are doctrines that evolve and progress, in the same way that there are certain actions that were once accepted in the past and are now condemned by the Church—such as slavery or the death penalty. Pope Francis emphasized the importance of accepting changes while dealing with the serious problems of our time.
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