Andrew Medichini/AP
- Pope Francis told Catholics to prioritize seeking God in the faces of the poor over "ideologies."
- He recently approved blessings for gay and lesbian couples, eliciting some accusations of heresy.
- He highlighted the need to make sure faith is not "reduced to an assemblage of religious devotions."
While several Christian denominations face divisions regarding LGBTQ acceptance, Pope Francis wants Catholics to prioritize caring about the poor more than caring about stiff ideologies.
In his homily on Saturday, he departed from the scripted text to vocalize the "need to abandon ecclesiastical ideologies" and make certain the faith is not "reduced to an assemblage of religious devotions or mere outward appearance," the Associated Press reported.
"We find the God who comes down to visit us, not by basking in some elegant religious theory, but by setting out on a journey, seeking the signs of his presence in everyday life," which can be found in those living in poverty, the Pope said, according to the AP.
While the Pope did not mention gay acceptance, he has been one of the most notable top religious figures to issue some degree of support for the LGBTQ community.
The Pope made waves in December by allowing blessings for gay and lesbian couples, though the church maintains its strict prohibition of gay marriage, the Associated Press previously reported. Facing accusations of heresy in response, the Vatican said that people "should not be required to have prior moral perfection" to be granted a blessing, which is distinct from a marriage ritual.
In the past, the Pope has admonished some American Catholics as excessively conservative, "backward," and "reactionary" to progress, especially in the context of gay rights and women being ordained. He even went as far as relieving a particularly outspoken and conservative bishop in Texas of his duties in November, BI previously reported.