The Vatican allowed gays to become priests if they remained celibate*.
Relevant recommendations transmits Reuters, approved by the Italian Bishops' Conference. According to the new rules, a potential priest's sexual preferences should be taken into account “as one aspect of his personality.”
The condition of celibacy remains; the requirement applies to all candidates for priesthood. According to the Italian bishops, the document was approved back in November 2024. Instructions entered into force for a three-year “trial period”.
It is worth noting that in the past the Vatican has not explicitly prohibited homosexuals from becoming priests. However, a 2016 manual stated that seminaries could not admit men “with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.”
*Celibacy – from the Latin word “unmarried” – is not the same as abstinence. In the precise sense of the word, this is a state when a person goes without sex his whole life. Abstinence may be temporary. It is also possible to abstain from sex while in a relationship.
Previously, the Pope supported same-sex civil unions:
More Stories
Intervation-2025: Musical answer to Eurovision
Today is the International Greek Day (video)
The son of the former king of Greece married a relative of the Greek oligarch