The Vatican experienced a tumultuous start to 2024 following the announcement of the possibility of blessing same-sex couples. This new norm was rejected by some parts of the Church, with many episcopal conferences opting for the possibility of not implementing it.
CARD. VÍCTOR MANUEL FERNÁNDEZ
Prefect, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
There has been a magisterial innovation—an innovation in the way we understand blessings. The Pope sought to broaden the understanding of blessings to develop its pastoral richness. In other words, it helps us understand that there are blessings that do not confirm, do not sanction, do not consecrate, do not justify anything. They are just a prayer of the minister to express God's help to continue living.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith played a prominent role during events this year. It published a document on human dignity, which, among other things, rejected practices like surrogacy and gender transition interventions.
In addition, 2024 was a year filled with high-level political meetings, a year in which for example the Pope met with Argentina's new president, Javier Milei.
You cut your hair!
-I just fixed it. Can I give you a kiss?
Yes, my son, yes. It's good to see you. Thank you for coming.
He also participated in the G7 summit held in Italy,the first time a pope had attended such a meeting as a guest. There, he met with Biden and Zelensky. For the Ukrainian president, this trip was crucial in emphasizing the need for military aid from the world's major powers.
The Pontiff was very active throughout the year. He reformed the processes for papal funerals, and in the subsequent interviews he gave, he also confirmed the approach he was going to take in in relation to delicate issues, such as a possible reform of the conclave.
POPE FRANCIS
There isn’t anything to it yet. All popes have reformed the conclave. All of them. I have not yet reformed it because it seems like a secondary thing to me.
Speculation also arose as to whether the Pope would allow women into the Sistine Chapel. This considering that during the Synod of Bishops, he had already granted several women the right to vote.
Despite his age, in September the Pope undertook the longest trip of his pontificate. He visited Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore. He would later make two brief visits in Europe, traveling to Luxembourg, Belgium, and Corsica, the latter almost on the eve of his 88th birthday.
His calls for peace were constant from the start through to the end of the year, particularly in relation to the Ukraine and the Middle East.
POPE FRANCIS
This Christmas, which marks the beginning of the Jubilee year, I invite every person, every people, and every nation to have the courage to cross the Holy Door, to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the weapons. To silence the weapons and overcome divisions.
The Vatican’s final impactful image of 2024 was this: the opening of the Holy Door. A spiritual event of great importance for the Church, one in which Pope Francis plans to invest a lot of energy in 2025.