Pope Francis

Returning from a trip to South Sudan, Pope Francis denounced the criminalization of homosexuality and said gay people should be welcomed by their churches.

Iain Greenshields, the Presbyterian moderator of the Church of Scotland who also participated in the pilgrimage and news conference, offered an observation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. The Vatican forbids both gay marriage and blessings for same-sex unions. I entirely agree with every word he said,” Welby said. LGBTQ advocates say even where such laws are not applied, they contribute to a climate of harassment, discrimination and violence. God accompanies them,” he added.

On the last day of his African pilgrimage, Francis begged South Sudanese people to lay down their weapons and forgive one another, presiding over Mass at the ...

Citing cultural norms in which wealth is passed down to male heirs and women are married young for dowries, she said it is a constant struggle to keep girls in school. In a bid to spur the process along, Francis was joined on the novel ecumenical peace mission by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Rt. The aim of the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian leaders was to Watchdogs’ allegations of corruption are also widespread; some South Sudanese upon the pope’s arrival noted that his modest vehicle was overshadowed by local officials’ luxury ones. “We need a permanent peace now and I hope these prayers would yield to lasting peace.” “Even if our hearts bleed for the wrongs we have suffered, let us refuse, once and for all, to repay evil with evil,” Francis said.

"The criminalization of homosexuality is a problem that cannot be ignored," the Pope said on Sunday.

The Pope also made a point of saying that [parents of LGBTQ+ children should not "condemn" them](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-says-parents-should-support-gay-children-not-condemn-them/). The decision came after five years of debate. "People with homosexual tendencies are children of God," he added. [The Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-gay-rights-ap-interview-1359756ae22f27f87c1d4d6b9c8ce212?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_01) that [while homosexuality itself "is not a crime](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-homosexuality-not-a-crime-but-gay-sex-a-sin/)," same-sex sexual relations are a "sin." [the Church of England outlined proposals that would refuse same-sex marriages in its churches](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/church-of-england-continues-to-refuse-to-allow-same-sex-marriages/), saying that it would continue to teach that marriage is between "one man and one woman for life." [Pope Francis](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-homosexuality-not-a-crime-but-gay-sex-a-sin/) and protestant leaders from England and Scotland denounced the criminalization of homosexuality on Sunday, calling laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people both a "sin" and an "injustice."

Pope Francis departs from Juba aboard the papal plane bound for Rome, marking the conclusion of his 6-day Apostolic Journey to South Sudan and the ...

“We hope that our political leaders will listen to the message of the Holy Father properly, and the message of His Grace Archbishop Justin Welby and Rev. And lose no opportunity to build peace.” “It is only by caring about our brothers and sisters that we can really realize this peace,” he said.

When asked by a journalist what the pope would say to families in Congo and South Sudan who reject their children because they are gay, Pope Francis responded ...

I entirely agree with every word he said there,” Welby said. This is what I said on that trip.” In his response to the question about the acceptance of people with same-sex attractions, Pope Francis noted that he has spoken on the topic multiple times during in-flight press conferences.

Pope Francis flew back to Rome on Sunday after a three-day tour of South Sudan. The pope concluded his visit with a Mass before an estimated 100,000 people ...

Iain Greenshields, moderator of the Church of Scotland, representing the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian religions that make up most of the population in South Sudan. Speaking through an interpreter, Francis said that “today, I'd like to thank you because you are the salt of the Earth in this country. The pope was joined on his ecumenical peace mission by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and Rt. This was Pope Francis's message during a Mass for South Sudan's faithful in the nation's capital of Juba Sunday morning. we have been experiencing looting, raping, economic distortion and the displacement of countless people,” Ameyu said. Pope Francis flew back to Rome on Sunday after a three-day tour of South Sudan.

Pope Francis urged the people of South Sudan on Sunday to resist the "venom of hatred" so they could achieve the peace and prosperity that have eluded them ...

South Sudan has some of the largest crude oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa but a U.N. I want the visit to be a blessing to us. The pope has had a longstanding interest in South Sudan. "We want God to listen to our prayers." The 86-year-old pope wove his homily around the themes that have dominated his trip to the world's newest nation -- reconciliation and mutual forgiveness for past wrongs. May hope and peace dwell in South Sudan!"

On the last day of his visit, throngs of South Sudanese filled John Garang Mausoleum to greet him.

To violate the fundamental rights of any woman or man is an offence against Christ." The religious ceremony fell on the last day of the Pope's visit to South Sudan, which was his first to the country. He urged the congregation to reject what he called the "venom of hatred", and told them to lose no opportunity to build peace.

On his return flight from South Sudan on Sunday, Pope Francis said that God loves and accompanies people with same-sex attraction.

God accompanies them,” the pope said during an in-flight press conference on his return from Juba on Feb. God loves them. On his return flight from South Sudan on Sunday, Pope Francis said that God loves and accompanies people with same-sex attraction.

Pope Francis hit out strongly against the way people have sought to manipulate Benedict's death. “People who instrumentalize such a good person, ...

In September he will visit Marseilles for a meeting of the bishops of the port-cities of the Mediterranean, where the issue of human migration will be at the forefront of discussion. Congo “should be one of the richest on the face of the planet,” Archbishop Welby said. Archbishop Welby, who was in Ukraine before Christmas, said, “An end to this war is within the hands of President Putin. “The whole world is at war and in self-destruction. The companies there act irresponsibly with artisanal mining.” Some offenses, he cited, include kidnapping of laborers, the use of child soldiers and “rape on a huge scale.” Outsiders “simply pillage the country.” “This is not right,” the pope said. “They are of a party, not of the church.” “And I shall certainly quote the Holy Father,” Archbishop Welby said. In April 2019, Pope Francis kissed the feet of the leaders of South Sudan, begging them to make peace. Pope Francis replied, “I was able to talk about everything with Benedict and to change opinions. “There was a lot of talk in these days about unity,” the journalist began before asking Francis: “After the death of Benedict, has your mission become more difficult? The pope had been on a pilgrimage for peace with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields.

Pope Francis has said some in the conservative wing of the Roman Catholic Church had exploited the death of the former pope, Benedict, in an unethical way ...

"Those people do not have ethics. They are people of a party, not of the Church," he said, in a conversation that included a condemnation of a law criminalising LGBTQ people, and his travel plans. "I think the death of Benedict was instrumentalised by some people," he said, using the Italian phrase "guiding water to one's own mill", meaning people who want to benefit themselves at the expense of others.

Reconciliation and mutual forgiveness for past wrongs — these were the main themes woven in the Pope's homily during his last public engagement before flying ...

In one of the most remarkable gestures of his papacy, he knelt to kiss the feet of the country’s previously warring leaders during a meeting at the Vatican in 2019. The predominantly Christian South Sudan broke away from Muslim Sudan in 2011, but two years later plunged into a civil war that has so far killed 400,000 people. As bouts of fighting continue to kill and displace many civilians despite the 2018 peace deal between two main antagonists, Francis made one more last plea for peace and forgiveness in the war-torn country.

John Baptist Tumusiime, Vatican News staffer - Juba, South Sudan. According to Vatican authorities, the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Juba was attended ...

The three visited South Sudan to give support to the peace process and specially to encourage South Sudanese and their leaders to work for peace. This was the first time in Christian history that leaders of the Catholic, Anglican and the Presbyterian Churches conducted a joint ecumenical foreign visit. Pope Francis arrived in South Sudan on Friday alongside archbishop Justin Welby, the Head of the Anglican Communion and who is also the archbishop Canterbury, and the Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the Rt. He also pleaded with South Sudan’s leaders to focus on ending conflict and intercommunal violence in the country. He called upon the faithful to build good human relationships as a way of curbing division, corruption, and injustices. People waved national and Vatican flags, drummed, ululated and sang songs as the Pope entered the venue and moved through the crowds in his popemobile before the beginning of Holy Mass.

Francis' visit to South Sudan was marked by strong moments of Christian unity, an ardent defense of women and a stern call to end all violence.

The following morning on February 4, Pope Francis gave a speech to the bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women and seminarians of South Sudan, at St. As Pope Francis was leaving the Cathedral a photographer captured an incredibly touching moment. He recalled the meaning of the word “Republic,” emphasizing that “the state belongs to everyone.” He was then joined by the other religious leaders and the vice-presidents of South Sudan for a short meeting. For the second leg of his 40th papal trip, the Pontiff was joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields, on this unique pilgrimage to promote peace in a Christian country marked by violence and conflict. Pope Francis released a dove after getting off the plane, as a symbol of peace.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church lashed out against the partisan use that clerical conservatives have made of the former pontiff's death, ...

The Vatican has been very careful not to make any diplomatic gesture that could place it in a compromising situation when it comes to claiming a mediating role in the conflict. “I am not like I was at the beginning of the pontificate. The pope, who is 86, also sought to dispel doubts about his state of health and the possibility of a resignation following in the footsteps of Benedict XVI, who decided to retire in 2013. Benedict was not scared, he called four top-level theologian cardinals and told them: ‘Explain this to me.’ They explained it to him, and that was the end of the story. [r](https://english.elpais.com/society/2023-01-25/pope-says-homosexuality-not-a-crime.html) [ecent interview with the AP news agency](https://english.elpais.com/society/2023-01-25/pope-says-homosexuality-not-a-crime.html) in which he criticized the countries that criminalize the practice, although he maintained the idea that it is a sin. But I leave these things to one side, because they will not prosper, they will fall under their own weight, as at other times in the history of the Church,” he told reporters. [a variety of issues](https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2017/01/21/inenglish/1485026427_223988.html) since the passing of Benedict XVI. This time he went further and asserted that “condemning a homosexual person is a sin.” “It is estimated that around 50 countries [punish homosexuality] in one way or another. It is an anecdote to show how Benedict XVI acted when there was a complaint. The author, an archbishop who guarded the private thoughts of Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) for 20 years, also gave several interviews criticizing some of the current pontiff’s positions. The timing was commercially perfect, if questionable given the short amount of time that had elapsed since the late pontiff’s death. In addition to Gänswein’s memoir, there is another book that has just come out by a declared opponent of Pope Francis, Cardinal Müller, former prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Catholic Bishops in Africa and Madagascar have expressed their gratitude to Pope Francis for visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan ...

[Justin Welby](https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/about/about-justin-welby), and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev. We provide news from Africa, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church - so that you can grow in your Catholic faith. [Iain Greenshields](https://twitter.com/churchmoderator?lang=en)) encouraged African Christians to be one: pray together and work together.” “Our joy was great as we heard the Holy Father, after presiding over the Holy Eucharist in the Roman Rite for the Dioceses of Zaire saying: ‘Yours is a Church present in the lived history of this people, deeply rooted in its daily life, and the forefront of charity. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa. [when he arrived in DRC](https://www.aciafrica.org/news/7563/hands-off-africa-pope-francis-says-in-democratic-republic-of-congo), “Hands off Africa!