00:00 Pope Francis says he sees "hypocrisy" in criticism of his decision to allow priests
00:06 to bless same-sex couples.
00:08 The Pope tells Italian Catholic magazine Credere, "Nobody gets scandalized if I give my blessings
00:13 to a businessman who perhaps exploits people, and this is a grave sin.
00:17 But they get scandalized if I give them to a homosexual."
00:21 LGBT blessings are authorized last month by a Vatican document called "Fiducia Suplicans,"
00:27 but it was met with significant resistance in the Catholic Church, particularly from
00:31 African bishops.
00:32 The pontiff said in August 2023, "No one should be denied a blessing.
00:36 Everyone, everyone, everyone."
00:39 Francis has made it one of his missions to make the Catholic Church more welcoming and
00:43 less judgmental.
00:44 (gentle music)
