The Pope’s unprecedented approval of same-sex marriage has sent shockwaves across Africa, leaving many Africans confused and with mixed emotions, sparking widespread backlash across Africa.
Breaking away from the conservative stance followed by his predecessors, Pope Francis in a statement formally approved permission for Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples on Dec. 1—a sweeping policy change aimed at making the church more inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on same-sex marriage. Edit for The document from the Vatican’s dogma office sent to five conservative cardinals, Francis suggested that such blessings could be offered under certain circumstances if the blessings were not confused with the ritual of marriage.
Africa is a continent deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions with strong conservative views. Sexual orientations and gender identities are controversial topics, although they have historically existed in many pre-colonial African societiescontemporary attitudes towards homosexuality and LGBTQ+ people in Africa are often hostile and bigoted.
Of the continent’s 54 countries, 31 have laws criminalizing homosexuality, more than any other continent, according to the Human Dignity Trust, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. And with the current resurgence of anti-gay bills and the introduction of draconian laws on the continent, homophobic sentiments and violent attacks against LGBTQ communities have intensified in recent months.
Inevitably, the document was to cause a stir among Christians, and especially Catholics. But while this development resonated positively with some, its impact on Africa – home to 265 million Catholics, nearly a quarter of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics – was met with a furor of protest that swept across Africa after the publication on December 18.
Many of those Catholics who live in countries where homosexuality is condemned and criminalized now find themselves facing an upheaval that challenges long-held beliefs. The move does not change the church’s stance on homosexuality. He remains of the position that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman, just that the pope has expressed his support for same-sex civil unions.
Protesters carry placards during a national wide march organized by churches in Malawi against same-sex marriage in Lilongwe on July 13, 2023.
Amos Gumulira/AFP via Getty Images
Christians in Africa face a dilemma trying to navigate the delicate balance between tradition and modernity in a society where homosexuality is considered an abomination and a Western import. This exposes the decades-long tension between evolving social values and the desire to preserve African cultural heritage.
“As a Christian, I am very disappointed with the Pope. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the news,” Frank from Ghana told me in an interview. “He just embarrassed the Catholic Church in front of the whole world.” Judith from Nigeria shared a similar displeasure: “The Catholic Church has become corrupt. Homosexuality is an abomination and we Africans will not participate in such sacrileges,” he said.
So we see Christians facing the difficult task of reconciling their faith with a church that seems to be changing its stance on a controversial issue they didn’t expect. Obviously, we can also see that the controversy lies at the heart of the conflict between the progressive stance of the Pope and the deep-rooted cultural and religious values that define many African societies.
Religion—a major influence on art, culture, and philosophy across the continent—has shaped the moral fabric of communities for generations. Pope Francis’ stance on same-sex marriage directly challenges these deeply held norms, prompting a visceral backlash from those who see it as a departure from established dogma.
Pope Francis speaks to young people after a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, priests and seminarians at the Saint Teresa Cathedral in Juba, South Sudan, on February 4, 2023.
Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images
It is perhaps no surprise then that this drastic change caused a wave of discontent, with Christians across Africa calling for a boycott of the Pope and the Church of Rome. The call for a boycott reflects the depth of resentment, homophobia and perceived betrayal of core religious principles. The backlash is not limited to congregants, but extends to religious leaders who have historically played a central role in shaping social norms.
While advocates of the LGBTQ+ community rejoiced, the Pope’s new stance on same-sex marriage opened a rift between the Vatican and African churches. African bishops of both the Catholic and Anglican churches in Africa showed widespread disdain.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)—in a statement signed by CBCN president and secretary, Reverend Lucius Ugorji and Reverend Donatus Ogun—said the blessing of same-sex marriage is contrary to God’s law, teachings of the church, the laws of the land and the cultural sensitivities of Nigerians. The bishops assured the “people of God” that the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage remained the same.
According to the Associated Press, while reaffirming their faith in the pope and the church of Christ, the Catholic bishops of Africa and Madagascar released a collective statement signed by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo last week, saying they “generally prefer” not to offer blessings to same-sex couples. “We, the African bishops, do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless same-sex unions or same-sex couples because, in our context, this would cause confusion and be in direct conflict with the cultural ethos of African communities,” he said. .
Ambongo stressed how inappropriate it is for African priests to offer such blessings because of the scandal and confusion it would create. Citing biblical teaching condemning homosexuality as an abomination and the African cultural context, he argued that LGBTQ+ unions “are seen as contrary to cultural norms and inherently corrupt”.
This resistance by the African Bishops has garnered praise from some international Christian communities, praising their resilience and unwavering commitment to the preservation of African cultures. Rev. Jean-Miguel Auguste, a Catholic priest of the Brooklyn diocese praised the stance of Catholic bishops in Africa to bless same-sex couples, saying that “Africa is the only continent that will save the world.”
Father Auguste, in his sermon at the Parish of St. Pius X of New York praised the courage of the Catholic Church in Africa: “Today all the bishops in Africa told the Pope that they will not allow any priest to bless same-sex couples. ” Fr said Auguste. “I have an obligation to bless and pray for anyone anonymously, but the blessing of same-sex marriages should not be encouraged.”
These leaders, once aligned with the Vatican, are now at odds with the Pope, leading to discord between the Church of Rome and its counterparts in Africa. The ripples extend far beyond religious dogma, delving into the fabric of cultural identities and social norms.
Pope Francis in a televised interview on Sunday, according to Reuters, doubled down on the decision to approve blessings for same-sex couples, suggesting those in the Catholic Church who have resisted have jumped to “bad conclusions” because they don’t understand it.
“Sometimes decisions are not accepted, but in most cases when decisions are not accepted, it is because they are not understood,” Francis said in response to a specific question about the December statement. “The danger is that if I don’t like something and I put it (the opposition) in my heart, I become a resistance [sic] and jump to bad conclusions.”