Pope Leo endorses Francis' divisive 2016 text on Communion after civil remarriage
Source: AP
By NICOLE WINFIELD
Updated 6:12 AM CDT, March 19, 2026
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ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Thursday summoned Catholic bishops to Rome for a special meeting on ministering to families that takes as its starting point Leo’s strong endorsement of one of Pope Francis’ most controversial policies on marriage and divorce.
Leo penned a special message marking the 10th anniversary of Francis’ 2016 document “The Joy of Love.” He called the text a “luminous message of hope” that is even more relevant and urgent today than it was a decade ago.
When it was released, “The Joy of Love” immediately sparked controversy because it opened the door to letting civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion.
Church teaching holds that unless these Catholics obtain an annulment — a church decree that their first marriage was invalid — they cannot receive the sacraments, since they are seen as living in sin and committing adultery.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-family-pope-francis-heresy-c078f3541fcd85d9023c5da490a25be0