Pope Francis' statements on same-sex civil unions in the documentary Francesco, presented on 22 October 2019 at the Rome Film Festival, make him the first pontiff to speak out publicly in favour of gay rights. He said, “what we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered,” regarding same-sex couples. His statement has caused the beginning of a debate within the Catholic Church about the legal status of same-sex civil unions.
Although this revolutionary pronouncement comes as no surprise considering the evolution of his position over the last ten years, it has caused a great deal of controversy. While the majority of the public have received the news enthusiastically and applauded this courageous step forward, others have distanced themselves from his statements. Some have accused the director Evgeny Afineevsky of having manipulated the interview to portray the Pope as a supporter of same-sex civil unions.
The Catholic Church is often reluctant to accept changes to established doctrine, and homosexuality is no exception. A 2003 document from the Vatican’s Doctrine Office signed by Joseph Ratzinger, who would become Pope Benedict XVI years later, stated: “In those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty.”
That is why the present pontiff's recent words are so valuable. They represent a departure from the words of his predecessor and an invitation to the LGBTQIA+ community to become part of the Catholic family. Remember that earlier this year the Pope not only showed his support for an Argentinean Carmelite nun who opened a safe home for transgender women, but also referred to the women as "daughters".
The Pope also pointed out that it was not the first time he supported civil unions for same sex couples. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 2010, he encouraged his fellow Argentine bishops to join the Church's public support of civil unions, which have been legal in the Argentine capital since 2002. However, his support here was born in opposition to new legislation that would allow homosexual couples to marry and adopt children—developments that Pope Francis strongly opposed. Given his position at the beginning of the decade, it would be too ambitious to think that his recent words also reflect his support of gay marriage.
Instead, they are important because the Pope’s influence on countries of Roman Catholic tradition, and in the broader international community, can push LGBTQIA+ rights to a more prominent place on the human rights agenda. Furthermore, his words have initiated a discussion among church leaders and the community of Roman Catholic believers, which may facilitate families accepting the sexual orientation of their children and a broader acceptance of members of the LGBTQIA+ community in the near future.
Although the pontiff has not yet issued a statement on the subject, everything points to the fact that Pope Francis may be the catalyst for change that will make the Church a safer space for same-sex couples and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Silvia has a degree in Law from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and a Master's in Human Rights from the Open University of Catalonia. She is passionate about the rights of vulnerable groups and would like to devote her professional career to raising awareness about human rights violations around the world.