New era for the Vatican? Pope Leo signals major shift in marriage rules

Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech during the weekly general audience at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on October 7, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Thursday, 08 Oct 2026 8:53 AM MYT

VATICAN CITY, Oct 8 — Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday called on the Roman Catholic Church to revise the way it helps families and handles failed marriages as he opened a major weeklong religious assembly.

With the church debating how it recognises separations, Leo did not directly mention divorce but called on Catholic leaders to reflect on the “experience of fragility” and the handling of “situations marked by limitations, wounds, and apparent failures.”

Leo’s predecessor, Francis, who died in 2025, made a tentative step in 2016 for Catholics who have divorced and remarried in civil ceremonies to receive Communion. It sparked a Church-wide debate and pushback from conservative Catholics. Leo’s address was made to a week-long closed assembly of bishops from 120 countries, who will be joined by leaders from Eastern churches, experts, theologians and 11 lay couples to mark the 10th anniversary of the late Pope Francis’ “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love) document.

According to Church teaching, a Catholic who divorces and then remarries in a civil ceremony remains bound by the first marriage, unless it was officially annulled, and cannot receive communion.

“Amoris Laetitia” introduced the possibility of case-by-case decisions, without challenging the principle that a Catholic marriage cannot be dissolved.

Leo said: “Young people continue to aspire to love, fidelity, and a sense of belonging, but many struggle to envision how such a vision of love can take shape in their own lives.”

“In many contexts, a gap has widened between the way sexuality and intimacy are experienced and the Christian vision of marriage,” he said.

The assembly, which is to release a final report, is to discuss marriage and difficulties faced in life and could look at ways to welcome the LGBTQ community, another one of Francis’ concerns. — AFP