You can now bless same-sex marriages but on conditions — Pope Francis to catholic priests

Pope Francis has issued new guidelines opening the door to priests to bless same-sex unions, marking a significant step for LGBT acceptance in the Roman Catholic Church.

A BBC news report noted that under the new guidance approved by Pope Francis, priests can now bestow blessings on same-sex couples in some circumstances.

However, the Church's doctrine on marriage as being between a man and a woman remains unchanged.

"God welcomes all", said Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández as he introduced the new document.

But he affirms the Church's "traditional doctrine" on marriage.

The declaration says priests must decide whether to bless a same-sex union on a "case-by-case basis".

People receiving a blessing "should not be required to have prior moral perfection."

He added that individuals in same-sex couples could seek "God's blessing and will".