Pope Francis urged Vatican bureaucrats to avoid stagnant ideological dogma

The call came days after he officially allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, a radical change in Vatican policy.

In his Christmas greeting to the hierarchs of the Holy See, Pope Francis called on the cardinals, bishops and lay people who lead the Vatican to listen to each other so that they can grow themselves and truly serve the Catholic Church.

In the hall of blessings, the Pope told them that in the search for truth, it is important to constantly improve and grow. According to Francis, fearful adherence to the rules may give the appearance of avoiding problems, but ultimately only harms the service the Vatican Curia is called to provide to the Church.

“Let us be vigilant and beware of stagnant ideological dogmas, which, under the guise of good intentions, often distance us from reality and prevent us from moving forward,” the Pope said.

“Instead of doing that, we are invited to set out and, like the Wisdom, follow the light that always wants to guide us, sometimes along unexplored paths and new roads,” he said.

Francis’ annual meeting with Vatican hierarchs came in the same week that he formally approved permission for priests to bless same-sex couples, as long as the blessing is not performed during civil unions or weddings.

Earlier this year, Francis hinted that it would be approved, reversing a 2021 policy of the Vatican’s doctrinal office that had banned such blessings on the grounds that God “cannot bless sin.”

The Vatican believes that homosexuals should be treated with dignity and respect, but considers same-sex sexual relations to be “fundamentally wrong”. Catholic teaching says that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman, which is part of God’s plan and is intended to create new life.

Progressives and advocates for greater LGBTIQ inclusion in the Church hailed Francis’ announcement as a long overdue gesture of acceptance and recognition. Conservatives and traditionalists condemned it as contradicting the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality.

Francis did not specifically mention the decision on Thursday. He made slick remarks and linked them to the biblical story of Christ’s birth. After mentioning the modernizing Council of the Second Vatican Council, he urged the assembled prelates to listen to each other, to make discerning decisions, and then to move forward without prejudices.

“It takes courage to travel, to move forward,” he said.

The annual welcome is a high-profile event to which all cardinals living in Rome are invited. Missing this year was Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was sentenced over the weekend to five years and six months in prison for financial crimes. An influential Italian cardinal plans to appeal.