Pope Leo XIV said Church doctrine on gay marriage and women deacons will remain unchanged, emphasizing attitude shifts over doctrinal reform.
Pope Leo XIV has confirmed that the Catholic Church will not alter its doctrine on gay marriage or the ordination of women deacons, despite growing calls for reform. In his first interview since his election four months ago, the US-born pontiff said, “I think that the Church’s teaching will continue as it is.”
Speaking to journalist Elise Ann Allen for the book Pope Leo XIV: Global Citizen, Missionary of the 21st Century, Leo stressed that attitudes must shift before doctrine can be reconsidered. “We have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the Church says about any given question,” he said.
While acknowledging Pope Francis’s efforts to welcome marginalized groups, Leo signaled he would not follow his predecessor’s path of limited blessings for same-sex couples. He emphasized support for “the traditional family, which is father, mother, and children.”
The 70-year-old pope also said he was “willing to continue to listen” on women deacons but had no current intention of pursuing reforms.