Pope Francis has said that the Catholic church is open to everyone, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. It is mandated to accompany them on a personal path of spirituality but within the framework of its rules.
"The Church is open to everyone but there are laws that regulate life inside the church," he said.
Speaking to reporters on the plane returning to Rome from Portugal on Sunday, Francis also said his health was good following surgery for an abdominal hernia in June.
Despite removing his stitches, he claimed he needed to wear an abdominal band for another two to three months to strengthen his muscles.
The 86-year-old pope, who was returning from the World Youth Day Catholic event in Portugal, was in high spirits as he fielded questions for approximately 30 minutes at his annual jovial post-trip news conference while seated at the head of the reporters' section in the back of the aircraft.
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A reporter questioned whether it was coherent that some people, such as women and homosexual people, did not have the same rights and could not receive some sacraments in light of his statement that the Church was open to "everyone, everyone, everyone" while on the trip.
This seemed to reference that women are not permitted to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders and that same-sex couples are not permitted to enter into sacramental marriages.
"According to the legislation, they cannot partake in (some) sacraments. This does not mean that it is closed. Each person encounters God in their own way inside the Church," he said.
According to him, church leaders must treat everyone, even those who don't follow the rules, with the compassion and love of a mother.
Because Jesus exclusively picked men to be his apostles, the Church holds that women are not permitted to become priests.
Francis supports civil legislation granting same-sex couples rights in pensions, health insurance, and inheritance, even if the Church forbids same-sex marriage and bestows such couples' blessings.
It teaches that while there is nothing wrong with same-sex attraction, same-sex activities are.
