Pope Leo Says Morality Is Not Always About Sex; New Ways Ministry Responds
Just as his predecessor Pope Francis had become famous for doing, Pope Leo gave a blockbuster interview on the plane ride home from his apostolic visit, and touched on LGBTQ+ issues in the process.
In answer to a question about maintaining unity in the church when the German bishops are allowing rituals for blessing same-gender couples while African bishops harshly condemn LGBTQ+ people, Pope Leo responded:
Pope Leo XIV answering questions from journalists at news conference on plane ride back to Rome.
“First of all, I think it’s very important to understand that the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual matters. We tend to think that when the Church is talking about morality, that the only issue of morality is sexual. And in reality, I believe there are much greater, more important issues, such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion, that would all take priority before that particular issue. The Holy See has already spoken to the German bishops.
“The Holy See has made it clear that we do not agree with the formalized blessing of couples, in this case, homosexual couples, as you asked, or couples in irregular situations, beyond what was specifically, if you will, allowed for by Pope Francis in saying all people receive blessings.
“When a priest gives a blessing at the end of Mass, when the Pope gives a blessing at the end of a large celebration like the one we had today, they are blessings for all people. Francis’ well-known expression ‘Tutti, tutti, tutti’ is an expression of the Church’s belief that all are welcome; all are invited; all are invited to follow Jesus, and all are invited to look for conversion in their lives.
“To go beyond that today, I think that the topic can cause more disunity than unity, and that we should look for ways to build our unity upon Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches. So that’s how I would respond to that question.”
In response to these remarks, New Ways Ministry Exeutive Director Francis DeBernardo made the following remarks:
I am heartened by Pope Leo XIV’s comments that sexual morality is not the only area of morality with which the Church concerns itself. He listed other matters, more social matters–justice, equality, freedom–as being of greater moral concern. For years, Catholic advocates for LGBTQ+ people have been saying the same thing, so it is good to hear from the pope that he is making a decisive turn away from the church’s obsession with sexual matters.
In terms of his disagreement with the German bishops’ development of rituals for blessing same-gender couples and couples in irregular arrangements, Pope Leo’s response was very measured. He did not condemn or even criticize German church leaders. He simply said there is disagreement, and that this is not a cause for disunity.
That even-tempered attitude shows that Pope Leo is following in the footsteps of Pope Francis by fostering a Catholic Church which is more collegial and synodal in character. In other words, Catholicism can thrive with different leaders having differing points of view, and that the way to resolve those differences is through discussion and dialogue, not through lightning bolts of censorship, silencing, and excommunication. Pope Leo is calling for the Church to reflect “unity in diversity,” as called for by the Second Vatican Council.
Both the new moral emphasis on social issues instead of sexuality, and the fostering of a more collegial Church are good news for LGBTQ+ Catholics. This development provides an opening for greater discussion, something that LGBTQ+ Catholics have been desiring and calling for over the course of many decades. And it is only through discussion that the church will develop its doctrine to respond to the contemporary world.
—Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry, April 24, 2026
FOR FURTHER READING:
In 2022, New Ways Ministry published a book A Home for All: A Catholic Call for LGBTQ+ Nondiscrimination. The book was based on New Ways Ministry’s 2021 theological statement of the same name, which made the case that the church’s social justice tradition was prior to the sexual ethics tradition, and so should be given greater weight when discussing LGBTQ+ issues. The statement was endorsed by over 750 theologians, scholars, and church leaders, as well as over 2,000 lay people, and 100 Catholic organizations.
To order copies of the book, which is excellent for parish adult education and LGBTQ+ ministry discussions, click here.
To view the theological statement and its endorsers, click here.
As an ordained RC Priest my remembrance of my sacramental studies is that the sacrament of marriage is created when two baptized persons commit to a married life. The priest simply blesses and records the event as a witness for the church and state. That said the German bishops are spot on in my view. As a retired priest I have officiated at the marriages of our children and signed the official church and state documents as RC Priest retired.
My husband is left-handed. He never chose to be left-handed in a right-handed world from scissors to jar lids to door handles and knives he is reminded every day that he is wrong handed in our world. God loves diversity from hair, eye, skin color to hand dominance and sexual orientation. Different is unsettling to us. At 84 my husband is an early survivor who was not forced to learn to write with his right hand. I see the beginning of understanding that difference is born not chosen. There has been far too much pain caused by people trying to pass.
An LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Response – WE ARE BLESSABLE ! : Pope Leo’s response during recent in-flight press questioning, that the Church’s offering of blessings to same-gender Catholics, and others in relationships not fully recognised by the Church, should not be a source of disunity is to be welcomed. This is in line with the 1979 Introduction to the Pastoral Care of Homosexual People, approved by the Catholic Bishops of England & Wales, which stated, “Homosexuals have the same need for the Sacraments as the heterosexual. They also have the same right to receive the Sacraments.“ This principle should surely extend to non-sacramental rites.
This also reflects the late Cardinal Basil Hume’s 1997 “Note on Church Teaching” that “In whatever context it arises, and always respecting the appropriate manner of its expression, love between two persons, whether of the same sex or of a different sex, is to be treasured and respected. ‘Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus’, we read. [John, 11.5.] When two persons love they experience in a limited manner in this world what will be their unending delight when one with God in the next. To love another is in fact to reach out to God who shares his lovable-ness with the one we love. To be loved is to receive a sign, or a share, of God’s unconditional love.”
This is the ground upon which blessings should be available to all who seek them in spirit and in truth. We therefore welcome not only the pastoral approach of a number of German bishops, but also the resources offered to the People of God by the Flemish and French-speaking bishops in Belgium.
NOTE : The LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council is a recognised chaplaincy of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster mandated to identify the pastoral and sacramental needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans Catholics, their parents and families; to take part in 2nd & 4th Sunday 17.30 Masses at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, Mayfair, and to be responsible for the planning and organisation of faith-development activities relevant to LGBT+ Catholic communities; to communicate with the Archdiocese of Westminster on matters of pastoral care relating to LGBT+ Catholics, their parents and families.
Dear Francis. I have read and understood and agree with everything you have said in this article. But I can’t help wanting to ask the unwanted question -unwanted by Leo and I understand why… he’s trying to steer a safe course particularly with his concerns about the African church and unity of the church. Best what is to be said – nothing? – to All those who have suffered for so long, indeed centuries, under an extremely negative official church attitude and teaching- reiterated so recently in 1986 by Cardinal Ratzinger (still in the catechism I understand). Sure it’s better to think about those who are still living and young now and those who are coming in future. But deep down I can’t help but wonder is it really sufficient for the Shepherd of the flock to say, in effect : nothing to see here, move on. And then in a few decades time perhaps an apology of the kind John Paul II delivered at the turn of the millennium for the Crusades etc. i’d be interested in your thoughts privately or otherwise. Thank you for all your good and continuing work you are God send.
Thank you for your comments, Peter. I think that you will find a like-minded perspective in today’s blog post.