The Pope kept his sentiments ambiguous when he gave a statement on gay marriage, telling the Archbishop of Canterbury he wanted to join up with the royal to advocate familial ideals "based on marriage."
Pope Francis expressed his staunch disapproval of gay marriage during his time in his home country Argentina. But on Friday, when the pontiff and Archbishop Justin Welby prayed, ate lunch with one another and conversed on LGBT matters, it seemed as though the pontiff was not so directly harsh with his opinions, the Associated Press reported.
Welby is the religious leader of The Anglican Communion, an international network of churches. He publicly opposed any proposed legislation in Britain that endorsed the legalization of gay marriage, with claims that it would undermine traditional family values.
Welby went before the House of Lords last week, as the legislative body shuttled a gay marriage bill one move close to law. If passed, the bill would allow LGBT partners to marry in either civil or religious ceremonies in England and Wales.
Pope Francis told Welby during their meeting that he wanted to work with the spiritual leader to boost the sacred nature of life "and the stability of families founded on marriage."
Although the comment seems slight, it is significant that Pope Francis did not say that marriage is an institution grounded by the joining of man and woman. Quite often, Francis' predecessor Benedict XVI and John Paul II referred to marriage in a directly heterosexual manner.
According to Vatican officials who spoke with the AP, Pope Francis' comments went down somewhat of a middle road, as he attempted to convey his opinions diplomatically.
In the recent past, the pontiff has kept clear of the LGBT marriage debate, limiting his comments on the matter while clashes between supporters and the opposition have rocked France-a country that saw its first legal gay marriage two weeks ago- and Britain.
