Despite the fact that Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, expressed support for same-sex civil unions in the new documentary Francescomthat gay people are children of God and said, “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way, they are legally covered.”

However, on Monday, the Vatican issued a decree explaining that priests cannot bless such unions.

It is "impossible" for God to "bless sin", the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) said on Monday.

But the CDF did note the "positive elements" in same-sex relationships.

In the Catholic Church, a blessing is given by a priest or other minister in the name of the Church.

On Monday, Pope Francis approved the response by the CDF, saying it was "not intended to be a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite".

Some parishes in recent months, including in Germany and the US, have started giving blessings to people in same-sex relationships as a way to welcome gay Catholics to the church, Reuters news agency reported.

The CDF's response was in answer to the question posed to it: "Does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex?". It replied: "Negative".



The CDF pointed out that marriage between a man and a woman is sacrament and

therefore blessings cannot be extended to same-sex couples.

"For this reason, it is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open in itself to the transmission of life), as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex," it said.