A childhood friend of Pope Francis has claimed that the Pope intends to overturn the centuries-old ban on Catholic priests from getting married and that he told a divorcee 'living in sin' that she could receive Holy Communion.
The Pope considers the law on priestly celibacy 'archaic' and 'not part of the doctrine of the Church', according to the confidante.
The Pope with childhood friend Oscar Crespo
The friend also claimed the Argentinian-born pope also vowed to reform
another Catholic rule which bars divorced people in new relationships from
taking the Holy Communion.
According to Oscar Crespo, Pope Francis said that changing the Catholic
law which bars civil divorcees from taking a full part in church life is the
'number one priority' of his papacy.
Mr Crespo said that the Pope, 78, also sent a message to a divorced
woman 'living in sin' with a new partner assuring her that she was free to
confess and receive the Eucharist.
The Catholic church doesn't recognise divorce, considering that anyone
who remarries or starts a sexual relationship with another person other than
the one they first married is committing adultery.
Taking Holy Communion while in a state of sin is considered an even
graver sin.
The revelations will bring fresh hope to millions of civilly divorced
churchgoers, as well as thousands of clergymen who are increasingly
uncomfortable about their lifetime celibacy vows.
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