Pope Francis says celibacy in the Catholic Church may be reconsidered
The pontiff said he did not believe ending the celibacy requirement for priests would increase the number of people entering the priesthood.
Pope Francis has said that celibacy, the status of an adult who is not married, may be reviewed by the Catholic Church. The statement was published on Friday (10) in an interview for the Argentinian portal Infobae.
When questioned, the pontiff said he did not believe ending the celibacy requirement for priests would increase the number of people entering the priesthood. However, he defended that there is no contradiction in the priest’s marriage.
“Celibacy in the Western Church is a temporary prescription. I don’t know if it’s resolved one way or another, but it’s temporary in that sense. it’s not eternal like priestly ordination, which is eternal whether you like it or not,” he said.
Francis also cited examples of Eastern Catholic churches, which he said allow their priests to marry. “Everyone is married in the Eastern Church. Or whoever you want. There they make a choice before ordination: there is an option to marry or to be celibate,” he said.
Despite the announcement, the pontiff did not elaborate on a possible change in Catholic authority, or even if it would take place during his papacy. Francis, by the way, completes 10 years as Pope this Monday (13).
