Catholic Church: Pope Francis Marries 20 Unorthodox Couples in St. Peter’s Basilica
In a show of the pope's continued desire to reform the Catholic Church and change its moral focus from condemnation to mercy, he married 20 couples that otherwise would not have been married by the Catholic Church. Many had children out of wedlock or were divorced.
The mass wedding happened Sunday at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican when Pope Francis married the 20 couples from the Rome area, according to The Associated Press. In his homily, the pope referred to the couples as the "bricks that build society."
According to the Telegraph, the pope conducted his first wedding since he was elected to the position in March 2013. This is also the first mass wedding at the Vatican since 2000 when Pope John Paul II married eight couples. These couples come from various backgrounds, according to the statement by the diocese.
"There are those who are already cohabiting, those who already have children, who got to know each other in Church," the diocese of Rome said.
One of the couples getting married showed the type of diversity Pope Francis hopes to bring into the Church. Gabriella has an older daughter from a previous marriage and will marry a man who had his marriage annulled, reported the Telegraph citing Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
"We didn't feel worthy or able to meet the requirements of a good Catholic couple," Gabriella told the newspaper. "But the Church under the leadership of Pope Francis has welcomed and embraced us.
"This Pope is marvellous; he is renewing the Church. Not even non-believers can remain indifferent to his drive and his disarming simplicity."
The Catholic News Service reports that the mass wedding is happening weeks before the Synod of Bishops slated to happen between Oct. 5-19. In this meeting of bishops, the Vatican will discuss the results of recent questionnaire sent out to Catholics about the Church's standing in popular opinion and how it can be reformed.
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