The Church’s standing on marriage stands strong and the blessing does not signify approval of the union. Pope Francis approved the Declaration “Fiducia Supplicans” on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Declaration opens up the possibility for the ordained minister to consent in the case of people in an irregular situation who ask for a  blessing.

The Declaration in four parts deals with the topics of the blessing of the sacrament of marriage, the meaning of the various blessings, the blessing of couples in irregular situations and of couples of the same sex.

Already in paragraph 4, the Declaration states that,

“It is a matter of avoiding that “something that is not marriage is being recognized as marriage.” Therefore, rites and prayers that could create confusion between what constitutes marriage—which is the “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children”—and what contradicts it are inadmissible.”

This is the understanding of marriage of the Gospel as well as the stance of the Responsum (2021) of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which stands firm and states that the Church does not have the power to impart blessings on unions of persons of the same sex.

The Declaration quoted Pope Francis on many occasions just as in cases of over-regulation because,

“what is part of a practical discernment in particular circumstances cannot be elevated to the level of a rule” because this “would lead to an intolerable casuistry.”

For the aforementioned reason,

“one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation. At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing.”

In the last paragraphs (paragraph 42-45), the Declaration concludes that,

“even when a person’s relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a blessing, stretching out his hand to God”

But in the end, the Catholic Church’s stance on marriage remains unshaken.

Source: Vatican News  Fiducia suplicans