Overview
- Leo said it is highly unlikely the Church will revise teachings on sexuality or marriage soon and affirmed support for a traditional family of father, mother and children.
- He stated he does not intend to change Church teaching to allow women to become deacons at this time.
- The pope described LGBTQ-related issues as highly polarizing and said he seeks to welcome everyone without extending invitations based on identity.
- Addressing clerical abuse, he called it a real crisis, emphasized respect for victims and the presumption of innocence for the accused, and said the issue should not dominate his pontificate.
- The remarks appear in his first interview of the pontificate, published in Spanish in a book, as some bishops continue to press separate proposals on clerical discipline such as time-limited celibacy.