Pope says church must review attitude to 'sexuality and intimacy'

Vatican City - Pope Leo XIV has urged the Roman Catholic Church to reassess its approach to sexuality and relationships during the opening of a major religious conference. While the Pope did not explicitly mention divorce, he encouraged Church leaders to contemplate the struggles and challenges faced by families and marriages. Pope Francis, who passed away in 2025, had previously made limited concessions in 2016, allowing Catholics who divorced and remarried in civil ceremonies to receive communion.

This move led to a heated debate within the Church, with conservative members opposing the change. At the week-long assembly of bishops from 120 nations, along with representatives from Eastern churches, theologians, and married couples, Pope Leo highlighted the gap between the experiences of love, fidelity, and belonging among young people and the Church's traditional view of marriage.

He stressed that the Catholic Church should reconsider how it addresses separation and marital difficulties while adhering to the principle that a Catholic marriage cannot be dissolved unless officially annulled. The assembly will also discuss the potential to extend welcome and support to the LGBTQ community, a matter of significant concern for Pope Francis.