Pope Leo XIV shares statements on marriage and abortion in first official speech as Pontiff

Pope Leo XIV made a seriously controversial statement about marriage and abortions in his first official speech as Pontiff.

The 69-year-old Chicago-born pope was announced as the new Bishop of Rome earlier this month (8 May), following the passing of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who died last month on Easter Monday (21 April).

Now, Pope Leo has already had his first official mass and also made his social media debut but, earlier today (16 May), he made some pretty bold statements regarding marriage and abortion.

AP News reports that the pontiff declared that the family is founded on the 'stable union between a man and a woman' - a statement which quite clearly excludes any non-heteronormative relationships.

He also declared that the unborn and elderly enjoy dignity as God’s creatures, referencing clear Catholic teaching on marriage and abortion at the start of his pontificate.

Leo, who is a member of the Augustinian religious order, has emphasised peace as a priority of his pontificate, from the first words he said in St. Peter’s Basilica after his election: "Peace be with you all."

In his remarks, Leo, who is set to have his inaugural mass on Sunday (18 May), said the search for peace was one of the pillars of the papacy, insisting that peace isn’t just the absence of conflict but a 'gift' that requires work, from an end to the production of weapons to choosing words carefully.

"For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill," he said.

Pope Leo XIV has declared that the family is founded on the 'stable union between a man and a woman' (Vatican Pool / Contributor / Getty Images)

Leo claimed that it was up to governments to build peaceful societies 'above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman'.

"In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike," he added.

In 2012, the then-head of the Augustinian order, Pope Leo - who was then referred to as Rev. Robert Prevost - criticised the 'homosexual lifestyle' and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine.

However, a decade later, during Francis' pontificate, Leo acknowledged Francis' call for a more inclusive church, and said he didn’t want people excluded just on the basis of their lifestyle.

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