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In his customary press conference on the return trip from Slovakia this September 15, Pope Francis was asked to comment on a resolution coming from Strasbourg regarding same-sex marriage.
"I have spoken clearly about this, no?," he began. "Marriage is a sacrament. Matrimony is a sacrament. The Church does not have the power to change the sacraments as the Lord instituted them."
The Pope then commented on civil laws that can offer certain rights and protections to same-sex couples or even other unions of people. The Pope mentioned as an example three widows who might want to join together by law to share inheritance, or have health care benefits.
Since facing the push for same-sex marriage as bishop of Buenos Aires, the Pope has spoken about the possibilities of such civil protections for homosexual couples.
It "is important that people be helped ... but without imposing things that, by its nature, don't go in the Church," he said. "Marriage is marriage."
Pope Francis urged that condemnation be avoided. "No, please! They are our brothers and our sisters and we must accompany them. But marriage as a sacrament is clear. It's clear."
"Matrimony as a sacrament is between man and woman," the Pope said.
