Pope Francis has granted permission for Catholic priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples, marking a significant milestone for the LGBTQ+ community within the Roman Catholic Church.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church stated that in some cases, priests ought to be able to bless same-sex and “irregular” couples.

However, the Vatican has emphasized that blessings should not be made part of routine Church ceremonies or associated with civil unions or weddings, insisting that it will continue to view marriage as between a man and a woman.

Although the approval document itself states that priests must make decisions on a case-by-case basis, the Vatican said it should be a sign that “God welcomes all.”

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Church, while introducing the text, made it clear that the revised position does not confer official recognition to same-sex couples within the Catholic Church.