Pope Francis on Friday again defended the Vatican’s decision to approve the blessing of same-sex couples in the Catholic Church, but offered further clarification on the move, which has sparked outrage among believers and clergy, Reuters reported.

The sovereign pontiff explained that this decision is not an endorsement of the homosexual lifestyle, which the Catholic Church considers sinful, but that the blessings are individual for people who are trying to get closer to God.

Reuters reports that it is the second time in as many weeks that Pope Francis has clarified a decision announced by the Vatican on December 18 last year, a decision he endorsed and which has drawn open opposition from Catholic bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa.

Pope Francis also provided clarification on this topic in an interview broadcast on Italian television on January 14.

The sovereign pontiff made his new comments in an address to members of the Vatican’s Department of Doctrine. Its head, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, in turn, gave a series of interviews to try to explain the content of the document, which is called “Fiducia Supplicans” in Latin.

Pope Francis says blessing of same-sex couples aimed at ‘path of faith’

Now Francis said that the intention of blessing same-sex couples is to “concretely show the closeness of the Lord and the Church to all those who, in different situations, ask for help to continue – some to begin – the journey of faith”.

The Catholic Church teaches that sexual relations between people of the same sex are a sin and recommends the practice of chastity for those who are attracted to people of the same sex as themselves, since sin only occurs when these sexual impulses are active.

However, Pope Francis clarified that the Church does not demand “moral perfection” from homosexuals who want its blessing, and that the decision from last December is not to condone relationships that Catholics consider abnormal.

“When a couple spontaneously makes a request, it is not the union that is blessed, but only the people who asked for it. Not unions, but individuals,” the sovereign pontiff explained.

He also noted that these blessings should not be offered in a liturgical context, as “Fiducia Supplicans” also makes it clear that they should be given carefully and never with the pomp or precepts that accompany marriage.

In his address on Friday, Pope Francis appeared to acknowledge the opposition the document has sparked among some clerics, particularly in Africa, where homosexuality is punishable by death in some countries.

The sovereign pontiff said that when giving such blessings, priests should “naturally take into account the context, the sensitivity and the places where they live, as well as the most appropriate way” for same-sex couples.