AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGY

The pressure of legitimizing illicit unions (divorced and remarried, and especially same-sex) over the years has prompted Pope Francis to engage publicly with various questions surrounding the blessing of those in irregular unions, especially in recent times. This papal engagement culminated in the publication of the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings (FS) by the CDF on December 18, 2023. The document distinguishes between liturgical and ritualized blessings on the one hand, and non-liturgical blessings of a more pastoral and spontaneous nature on the other, which can be given to couples in non-sacramental unions. Its reception by many Catholics and clergy (including non-Catholics) has been unprecedently contentious, with many wondering whether Pope Francis is not subverting traditional Catholic teaching on both marriage and the rite of blessings. There is no gainsaying that FS presents a veritable challenge for every ordained minister, and indeed every Catholic (and Christian!) today. This paper will critically examine the document against a multidimensional theological backdrop: biblical, pastoral, ethical, liturgical, ecumenical, and related Church pronouncements. It will be argued that FS contains significant ambiguities that may create confusion and possibly lead to error if implemented as it stands.

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