Vatican says German same-sex blessings text lacks approval; Parolin rejects sanctions, emphasizing dialogue amid ongoing tensions.
Newsroom (07/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Two years after its initial development, the Vatican has reaffirmed that a controversial German handbook on blessings for same-sex and extramarital couples does not have official approval, while signaling that no disciplinary action is imminent.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), led by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, confirmed that the document titled “Blessing Gives Strength to Love,” endorsed in April 2025 by representatives of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), lacks its authorization. According to Vatican News, no new document accompanies this clarification.
Fernández emphasized that his November 2024 letter to Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, who heads the DBK’s liturgical commission, remains the “only and final response” from the dicastery. “What was said in that letter also applies to the text of the current handbook,” he stated, underscoring that the revised version still does not meet Vatican approval.
The clarification comes more than a year after German representatives finalized the handbook and several months after a November 12, 2025, meeting in the Vatican between Fernández and German bishops, during which the dicastery’s position was reiterated. The 2024 letter was only recently published on the dicastery’s website, reportedly with the agreement of Pope Leo XIV, possibly to reinforce the Pope’s own remarks that the issue had already been addressed with German leaders.
Despite these communications, no concrete measures have been taken, and the German initiative appears to remain in place.
Conflict with Fiducia Supplicans
At the heart of the dispute is the handbook’s approach to blessings. While revised from earlier drafts, the text does not incorporate the recommendations outlined in Fernández’s 2024 letter. It promotes spontaneity and freedom in blessing unmarried couples but also proposes structured forms resembling liturgical or paraliturgical rites.
Such elements directly conflict with Fiducia supplicans, the December 2023 declaration issued by the DDF, which states that the Church must avoid any form of rite that could create confusion about the nature of marriage.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the issue publicly on April 23 during a return flight from Equatorial Guinea. He stated that the Holy See had clearly communicated its disagreement with “formalized blessing of couples,” including same-sex couples or those in irregular situations, beyond what had been permitted under Pope Francis.
Dialogue Over Discipline
While doctrinal opposition remains firm, the Vatican has opted against immediate disciplinary measures. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, described it as “premature” to expect sanctions against the German bishops.
Speaking in Rome, Parolin noted that ongoing dialogue has allowed both sides to express their positions. He voiced confidence in the possibility of reaching a solution that integrates differing perspectives, particularly within the broader framework of synodality.
According to Parolin, any resolution must align with Canon Law, the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, and the Church’s tradition. He added that his hope is for conflicts to be resolved peacefully, without the need for punitive action.
For now, the situation remains unresolved, with doctrinal clarity from Rome coexisting alongside continued implementation of the German initiative.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Infocatholica
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