Pope Francis passes away: What was his take on homosexuality, women priests and abortion?

Pope Francis, who died on Monday, left a significant legacy of changes in Catholic Church teachings on issues like the death penalty and nuclear weapons while maintaining traditional stances on matters such as abortion.
During his papacy, he made notable progress in interfaith relations, particularly with Muslims, and introduced reforms in various church policies including LGBTQ+ rights and women’s roles in the church. Here are some key issues and Pope Francis’ take on them:
Homosexuality
Pope Francis has demonstrated evolving views on LGBTQ+ issues during his papacy, maintaining Catholic doctrine while showing increased acceptance through policy changes and public statements, including support for civil unions and allowing transgender participation in church activities.
“Who am I to judge?” Francis notably remarked in 2013 when questioned about a purportedly gay Vatican monsignor. “Being homosexual is not a crime,” Francis stated, affirming that God loves gay people as they are and that “everyone, everyone, everyone” is welcome in the church.
Under his leadership, the Vatican made significant policy changes, permitting transgender individuals to be baptized, serve as godparents, and witness weddings. The church also approved same-sex blessings.
Despite meeting with LGBTQ+ community members, Francis maintained the church’s position that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered.”
As Buenos Aires’ archbishop, he opposed same-sex marriage legalization, suggesting civil unions as an alternative. He later became the first pope to support civil union protections, expressing this view in a 2019 Televisa interview.

Abortion and contraception
Pope Francis upheld the church’s opposition to abortion but took a more pastoral approach. . He described abortion, as well as euthanasia, as evidence of today’s ‘throwaway culture’ and likened abortion to ‘hiring a hit man to resolve a problem.’
He allowed ordinary priests to absolve women who had terminated pregnancies and opposed US bishops’ attempts to deny communion to President Joe Biden over his abortion stance.
Pope Francis maintained opposition to artificial methods while emphasizing the need for responsible family planning through approved natural methods.
The Catholic Church endorsed Natural Family Planning, which requires women to track their ovulation cycles to avoid pregnancy through timing of intercourse. “Avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil,” Francis stated in 2016 regarding women at risk from the Zika virus epidemic, suggesting artificial contraception could be permissible in such cases.
Francis also noted that Catholics should practice “responsible parenthood” rather than breeding “like rabbits” while following church-approved family planning methods.
Stides in Muslim relations
The pope made historic strides in Muslim relations, signing a significant document with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.
He became the first pope to visit both the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, Abraham’s birthplace. He also met with Shiite leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani while in Iraq.
Women’s roles within Catholic Church
Francis made significant strides in expanding women’s roles within the Catholic Church through key appointments and legal changes, while maintaining certain traditional limitations such as the all-male priesthood and deferring decisions on women deacons.
He appointed an Italian nun as prefect of the Vatican office for religious orders and another as head of the Vatican City State administration, positions traditionally reserved for cardinals. A French nun was also named as undersecretary in the Vatican Synod of Bishops’ office with voting rights.
In other groundbreaking moves, Francis appointed three women to the Vatican office responsible for vetting bishop appointments. He also ensured women held half the seats on the Vatican’s economic council.
His reforms included establishing two study commissions to examine the possibility of women becoming deacons and elevating Mary Magdalene‘s status by declaring a feast day in her honor. Women were also formally permitted to serve as lectors and acolytes, roles they previously held informally.
Despite these progressive changes, Francis maintained the church’s position on an all-male priesthood and has not yet approved the ordination of women as deacons.
Divorced and remarried Catholics
Pope Francis sparked division in the Catholic Church by creating a pathway for divorced and remarried Catholics to potentially receive Communion, departing from traditional church teaching that considers such unions adulterous without an annulment.
The pope first streamlined the annulment process to make it more accessible. While he didn’t grant blanket permission for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive sacraments, he provided new guidance in his 2016 encyclical “The Joy of Love.” In a footnote to the encyclical, Francis suggested that bishops and priests could work with these couples individually to determine their eligibility for Communion, rather than enforcing a universal prohibition.
The traditional church doctrine maintains that Catholics who remarry civilly without having their previous marriage annulled are living in adultery and cannot receive Communion.

Death penalty
The pope changed church teaching to declare the death penalty “inadmissible” in all cases. He also opposed life imprisonment without parole, calling it a “hidden death penalty.”
Apology for church’s role
The pope made historic apologies for the church’s role in colonizing Indigenous peoples, particularly regarding residential schools in Canada.
He formally repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery” while maintaining support for some controversial historical missionary work.
Nuclear weapons
Pope Francis took a stronger stance on nuclear weapons than previous Catholic leaders, declaring that both possession and use of nuclear weapons are “immoral,” marking a significant shift in church doctrine.
Previous Catholic Church teaching had considered nuclear deterrence potentially morally acceptable as a temporary measure if it led toward mutual and verifiable disarmament.
Discrediting sexual abuse victims
The pope faced his greatest scandal when he initially discredited Chilean sexual abuse victims.
He later apologized personally and implemented significant reforms, including defrocking former US Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and establishing new procedures to investigate abusive bishops.
Relationship with Benedict
Francis maintained a complex relationship with his predecessor Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013. While describing Benedict’s presence as having a “wise grandfather” at home, tensions emerged, particularly regarding issues like priestly celibacy.
He praised the German-born pontiff for humility and courage by setting a precedent for retired popes, although after Benedict died, Francis said the papacy should be a job for life.
In controversial moves, Francis reversed Benedict and reimposed restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass. Francis said he had to act because the spread of the so-called Tridentine Rite after Benedict relaxed restrictions in 2007 was becoming a source of division in the church.
This outraged his traditionalist and conservative critics, who called the move an attack on them and the ancient rite. It fuelled right-wing opposition to Francis that already was angered at his outreach to gays and divorced Catholics.
Environment
On environmental matters, Francis became the first pope to incorporate scientific data in major church teachings. His 2015 encyclical “Praised Be” criticized global economic systems that exploit the poor and harm the environment.
A 2023 environmental update highlighted concerns about US emissions, while Pope Francis continued his advocacy for environmental protection, building on his predecessors’ calls for better stewardship of creation. The world was “nearing a breaking point” according to the 2023 assessment, which specifically focused on United States emissions.
Migration and refugee rights
On migration issues, Pope Francis consistently advocated for refugee rights, describing Europe’s response as the “globalisation of indifference.” He personally brought Syrian refugees to Rome and criticized border wall construction.
These changes and positions defined Francis’s papacy as one of significant reforms while maintaining core Catholic teachings, marking a period of both tradition and transformation in the Catholic Church.