The Vatican has said in a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.
A document from the Vatican's doctrinal office said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.
It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and "should not prevent or prohibit the Church's closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing".
The pope hinted that an official change was in the works in October in response to questions put forward by five conservative cardinals at the start of a synod of bishops at the Vatican.
While the response in October was more nuanced, today's eight-page document, whose subtitle is "On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings", spelled out specific situations.
An 11-page section was titled "Blessings of Couples in Irregular Situations and of Couples of the Same sex".
The Church teaches that same-sex attraction is not sinful but homosexual acts are. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has tried to make the 1.3 billion-member Church more welcoming to LGBT people without changing moral doctrine on same-sex activity.
The head of the Vatican's faith department, which wrote the document, was quoted in an introduction as saying it was "a broadening and enrichment" of the Vatican's stance on blessings, "based on the pastoral vision of Pope Francis," who wants a Church open to all.
In 2021, the Vatican said the Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions because God cannot "bless sin".
Today it upheld that line. "To avoid any form of confusion or scandal", blessings for same-sex couples cannot be "performed with any clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding".
"Such a blessing may instead find its place in other contexts, such as a visit to a shrine, a meeting with a priest, a prayer recited in a group, or during a pilgrimage," it said.
