Vatican Statement News Today

The Catholic Church did not approve blessings for same-sex unions.

The Pope's health is stable and he has no fever but a lung inflammation associated with breathing difficulties persists, a Vatican statement said on Wednesday, adding Francis was continuing an antibiotic therapy. The 86-year-old Francis sounded wheezy and limited speaking at his weekly audience held earlier in the day, after he cancelled a trip to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai because of health issues.

Pope Francis was hospitalized Wednesday after having suffered breathing problems in recent days and was diagnosed with a respiratory infection, though not COVID-19.

Pope Francis was hospitalized Wednesday after having suffered breathing problems in recent days and was diagnosed with a respiratory infection, though not COVID-19.

Francis, 86, who appeared in relatively good form during his regularly scheduled general audience earlier Wednesday is expected to remain in hospital for several days of treatment.

Francis, 86, who appeared in relatively good form during his regularly scheduled general audience earlier Wednesday is expected to remain in hospital for several days of treatment.

Here is part of the Vatican Statement (full statement below): "The blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit. This is because they would constitute a certain imitation or analogue of the nuptial blessing invoked on the man and woman united in the sacrament of Matrimony, while in fact “there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family”. The Christian community and its P...