Pope Leo XIV, in one of his first official acts as pontiff, firmly reiterated the Catholic Church’s position on marriage and the sanctity of life, stating that the family is rooted in the enduring bond between a man and a woman.
During a private audience with members of the Vatican’s diplomatic corps on Friday, May 16, 2025, the first American pope outlined his papacy’s key priorities, which include renewed commitment to peace, interfaith dialogue, and global cooperation.
“It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman,” he said.
In contrast to Pope Leo XIV’s recent affirmation that the family is founded on the stable union between a man and a woman, the Vatican, under Pope Francis, approved a landmark ruling allowing priests to bless same-sex couples provided the blessings occur outside formal Church rituals, liturgies, or events linked to civil unions or marriages.
Pope Leo XIV Stand on Marriage
Additionally, he stated that both the unborn and the elderly possess inherent dignity as God’s creatures, reaffirming the Church’s clear stance on marriage and abortion at the outset of his pontificate.
At the same time, he has made an outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics a key focus, urging that they are welcomed within the Church.
This is not the first time the Pope has talked about marriage as a union between a man and a woman during his leadership.
In 2012, while leading the Augustinian order, Rev. Robert Prevost publicly denounced and criticized the mass media for encouraging acceptance of same-sex relationships, which he said conflicted with Catholic doctrine.
Also Read: US Cardinal Prevost Named as New Pope
His Mission to the Church
In addressing the welfare of everyone, he stated that no one is exempt from the duty to respect the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, the sick to the unemployed, and citizens and immigrants alike.
Speaking to more than 100 Vatican diplomats, Pope Leo XIV described peace, justice, and truth as the three key principles guiding the Catholic Church’s worldwide mission and diplomatic efforts.
Also Read: Why Robert Prevost Chose the Name Pope Leo XIV
Call for Peace in Ukraine
Additionally, Pope Leo XIV urged for disarmament and encouraged open dialogue as an alternative to war, referencing Pope Francis’s Easter 2025 blessing, which carried a similar message.
In his conclusion, he spoke with a hopeful appeal that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Holy Land, and other regions can find peaceful resolutions.
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