Pope Leo XIV: 'Marriage is only possible between a man and a woman'

Pope Leo XIV, the central figure of the Catholic Church, has marked a milestone in his pontificate with a categorical statement:  "Marriage is only possible between a man and a woman". This pronouncement underscores a firm return to the doctrinal foundations that support faith and society.

The Holy Father firmly reaffirmed the doctrine on marriage: "Marriage is not an ideal, but the model of true love between man and woman: total, faithful, and fruitful love", he stated clearly from the high altar, quoting the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae.

Just two months after his election, on May 8, Leo XIV wasted no time in making a striking difference from the previous papacy. Contrary to the moral relativism and ideological concessions that characterized the last decade, the new pontiff stood unwaveringly before one of today's most sensitive debates:  the definition of marriage and the defense of life.

He recalled the importance of "holy marriages" as pillars of civilization, mentioning concrete examples such as Louis and Zélie Martin—parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, beatified in 2008—and the Polish family of the Ulma, martyred for protecting Jews during World War II. "By proposing holy marriages as exemplary witnesses, the Church tells us that today's world needs the conjugal covenant to know and welcome God's love, and to overcome, with its uniting and reconciling strength, the forces that destroy relationships and societies", he stated with conviction.

Leo XIV did not limit himself to exalting the natural family. In a particularly resonant passage, he strongly denounced modern logics that threaten life:  "It is true that, at times, this humanity is betrayed. For example, when freedom is invoked not to give life, but to take it away; not to protect, but to harm", he lamented, in a clear allusion to permissive abortion and euthanasia legislation. He added with hope: "However, even in the face of evil that divides and kills, Jesus continues to pray to the Father for us".

Although his papacy is just beginning, Leo XIV is already emerging as a restorative figure within the Church. His election brought hope to sectors that viewed with concern the ambiguous gestures of the previous pontificate, especially regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

Although he has not spoken extensively on the subject since his enthronement, statements he made in 2012—cited by The New York Times—have resurfaced, in which he harshly criticized the promotion of "beliefs and practices contrary to the Gospel", specifically pointing to "the homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families" formed by same-sex couples and their adopted children.