Vatican City – “In Northern Europe, for example, new rituals are already being published to bless ‘people who love each other.’ But this clearly contradicts the document approved by Pope Francis, Fiducia Supplicans, which states: of course all people can be blessed, but one must not attempt to ritualize a particular kind of blessing, because that does not correspond to the teaching of the Church.”
With these words, drawn from the book León XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century, the Pope leaves no room for ambiguity. It is a pointed criticism of the direction taken by some Northern European Churches—most notably the German Bishops’ Conference, torn between the pressures of the Synodal Path and fidelity to Rome.
The Pope’s Warning
In conversations with journalist Elise Ann Allen on July 10 and 30, at Castel Gandolfo and the Palace of the Holy Office, Pope Leo XIV spoke candidly about the question of homosexual Catholics. While he reaffirmed the need to welcome every person as a son or daughter of God, he also warned against taking an additional step: the ritualization of blessings which, in his view, risks contradicting the Magisterium. “This does not mean those people are bad,” he clarified, “but I believe it is crucial to understand how to welcome those who are different from us, to respect people who make different life choices.”
At the same time, he acknowledged that concrete demands remain on the table—“recognition of same-sex marriage, for example, or of transgender persons”—and that these claims raise sensitive challenges for the unity of the Church.
A German Divide
Although Leo XIV did not mention names, the allusion to Germany was unmistakable. The German Bishops’ Conference is today riven by deep fractures: on one side, supporters of the line advanced by Bishop Georg Bätzing and Irme Stetter-Karp, president of the Central Committee of German Catholics; on the other, bishops who have repeatedly expressed loyalty to Rome and opposition to the Synodal Path’s reforms. Tensions escalated further after remarks Stetter-Karp made at the end of August. She denounced what she called the inertia of many bishops in applying the Synodal Path’s resolutions: “We do indeed have an absolutist and hierarchical system. […] But isn’t it possible that some bishops risk dividing their faithful precisely because they stubbornly refuse to listen?” These words were not well received by Pope Leo XIV, who has consistently called for unity and ecclesial obedience.
Leo XIV’s German Contacts
The Pope is following developments in Germany closely, including through direct meetings. On September 4, 2025, he received Bishop Georg Bätzing in audience; a few days later, on September 8, he met with Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau, one of the most outspoken critics of the Synodal Path. These two encounters highlight Leo XIV’s willingness to keep dialogue open with both camps, while also making clear his determination to avoid doctrinal shifts that could fracture the unity of the universal Church.
A Line of Firmness
Taken together, the interview remarks and the September meetings outline Leo XIV’s approach: welcome individuals, yes; ritualize blessings, no. His stance echoes Fiducia Supplicans and sets a firm boundary against pressures from Northern Europe. At a time when the German Church is deeply divided and under international scrutiny, the new Pope’s voice stands as a call to fidelity to the Gospel and a reminder that doctrine cannot be reduced to a matter of compromise.
d.A.S.
Silere non possum