In his latest gesture that seems to suggest a more pragmatic stance on the LGBT issue of the Catholic church, Pope Francis has extended his blessing and appreciation to Francesca Pardi, a lesbian author of children's books whose works have been banned by the mayor of Venice.
The Italian author has made waves with her book, "Piccolo Uovo," which means "Little Egg" and tells the story of an egg who is faced with the decision of which type of parents to choose - a pair of gay penguins, lesbian rabbits, a single parent hippo, a mixed-race dog couple, and a pair of kangaroos who've adopted polar bear cubs. Eventually, the egg realizes that all of the parents are equally great, according to PEOPLE.
While Pardi's works in general have had their own share of critics, the most prominent and controversial move against her books has been done by the new mayor of Venice, Luidi Brugnaro, who banned the book and about 50 others from schools back in June due to their content.
The censorship of the books has not been met with much enthusiasm however, with about 250 Italian authors demanding that their books be taken off the shelf as well. Aware of the Pope's pragmatic stance on the issue of homosexuality, Pardi sent a package to the Pope containing samples of her work, reported The Guardian.
The Pope wrote back, sending his blessings to the to the lesbian author and wishing her well in her endeavors.
"His holiness is grateful for the thoughtful gesture and for the feelings which it evoked, hoping for an always more fruitful activity in the service of young generations and the spread of genuine human and Christian values," Peter B. Wells, a senior Vatican official at the secretariat of state, wrote in a letter dated July 9.
Pope Francis has become known for being a powerful religious figurehead with an open mind, previously stating that it cannot "interfere spiritually" in the lives of homosexuals. "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" he stated in 2013.
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