Pope Francis Calls for Unity, Focus on the Poor in Epiphany Day Mass

Amid backlash over same-sex blessings, the Pope emphasizes the need to abandon 'ecclesiastical ideologies' and find God in everyday life.

Pope Francis, during the Epiphany Day Mass, warned against the Church fracturing into groups based on individual ideas and called for the abandonment of 'ecclesiastical ideologies'.
The Pope emphasized the need to find God in the faces of the poor, rather than in 'elegant religious theory'.
Last month, Francis permitted priests to bless couples outside of marriage, including same-sex relationships, provided the blessing was pastoral and not part of a religious rite.
Some bishops, viewing Francis as a dangerous progressive, rejected these blessings, leading the Vatican to issue a statement that such blessings don't constitute heresy and there are no doctrinal grounds for rejection.
Francis, who turned 87 last month and has faced health issues, has dedicated much of his papacy to encouraging attention to marginalized people, including the poor, and has made efforts to make LGBTQ+ Catholics feel welcome.