Pope Francis had in an interview published on Monday, January 29, said that Africans were a “special case” in a reaction of sorts, to the the opposition of bishops and several other people in the continent towards homosexuality.
The had in the publication, allegedly said that he was confident that, excluding Africans, the critics of his decision to permit blessings for same-sex couples would eventually understand and allow it.
Blessings were officially permitted to be given to the LGBT in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust). That alone caused widespread debate and controversy in the Catholic Church, with particularly strong resistance coming from African bishops.
“Those who object vehemently are part of small ideological groups. A special case [for these] are Africans. For them homosexuality is something ‘evil’ from a cultural point of view, they do not tolerate it.” The Pope was reported to have said in an Italian newspaper, La Stampa
“Altogether, I trust that in due time, everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: because it aims to include and not divide.” the pope concluded.
In the interview with La Stampa, Francis added that he was not worried about the risk of conservatives denouncing and leaving he Catholic Church due to his reforms, saying that talk of a schism is [and was] always led by “small groups.”
