Watch: Pope Opens Vatican Synod On The Family By Telling Bishops ‘God’s Dream’ Is Man-Woman Marriage

Pope Francis opted for a welcoming tone, but again made clear the Roman Catholic Church’s position against same-sex marriage.

Addressing hundreds of Bishops as he delivered the opening mass at this year’s synod on the family, Pope Francis on Sunday reminded the faithful of the Catholic Church’s teachings against same-sex marriage.

“This is God’s dream for his beloved creation: to see it fulfilled in the loving union between a man and a woman, rejoicing in their shared journey, fruitful in their mutual gift of self,” the Pope told about 270 bishops along with other mass goers at St. Peter’s Basilica. He also warned against allowing the Church to bend to “passing fads or popular opinions.”

Reuters reports the Pope “stressed that the Church must be more welcoming, charitable, compassionate and merciful to all people,” but made clear he believes the “true meaning of the couple and of human sexuality in God’s plan,” is marriage between one man and one woman.

Pope Francis also told the bishops the “Church must search out” those who wish to remain committed to the Catholic Church, but find adhering to its edicts challenging. He urged the Church to “welcome and accompany them, for a Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and, instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock.”

EXCLUSIVE: So, Who Was Really Behind Kim Davis Meeting The Pope?

As the three-week synod opens today, the Vatican is hoping to put behind it several PR disasters of the past week, including the revelation the Pope met with Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, which the Vatican initially refused to confirm, then finally did, but minimized it as a “greeting” not a meeting. Vatican officials also tied to misdirect the media from the fact that American Catholic Bishops were responsible for arranging the meeting. 

The Holy See is also reeling from the news this weekend that a high-level priest who worked in the Vatican came out as being gay and in a relationship, while denouncing the Church’s homophobia. He was immediately fired.

 

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