The day before, Pope Francis said he could not read a speech because it was too difficult for him.
But the following day, he had no problem traveling to Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran to have a three-hour question and answer session with the Roman clergy.
The meeting included more than 800 people. Among the questions the Pope was asked was one about the recent declaration of the Doctrine of the Faith that has generated many reactions: Fiducia supplicans, which allows priests to bless couples in same-sex relationships or irregular situations.
Pope Francis reiterated that the declaration does not change doctrine because it blesses the person, not the sin and encouraged the clergy to read the Church's texts more carefully.
The Pope spoke again on that same topic during an interview with an Italian television station the following day. In it, he explained that each person who receives the blessing has the responsibility to take advantage of it and walk where God leads them.
POPE FRANCIS
The Lord blesses everyone. Everyone. Everyone who comes. The Lord blesses everyone who is able to be baptized that is, every person. But then people have to enter into conversation with the blessing of the Lord and find the road that the Lord proposes to them. But we have to take them by the hand and help them to follow that road—not condemn them from the start. That is the pastoral work of the Church.
In that interview, Pope Francis also revealed that he denied absolution of sins during a confession only once in his life.
POPE FRANCIS
I have been a priest for 54 years. This is a confession—54 years that I have been a priest. I am old, huh? In these 54 years, I have only once denied forgiveness, because of the person's hypocrisy. Once. I have always forgiven everything, even with the knowledge that the person will perhaps relapse.
The Vatican declaration on the blessings of same-sex couples has potentially been the document that has provoked the most reactions within the Church during Francis' pontificate.
JRB
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