"The defense of objective truth is not the only expression of this charity; it also includes kindness, patience, understanding, tenderness and encouragement. Therefore, we cannot be judges who only deny, reject and exclude," he said in a letter written in July 2023. ????? ???????  

Before this declaration, Francis had previously reaffirmed the church's stance on marriage -- "an exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to procreation" -- but also said he advocated for "pastoral charity." ????????????  

"A blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God. The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy and the closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live," the declaration stated. ?????  

The declaration stated, "When people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it. For those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection." ????? ???????  

Francis’ willingness to take a more progressive stance on issues from LGBTQ rights to same-sex marriage to immigration make him one of the most progressive and influential popes of the modern era. ????????????