ON BOARD THE PAPAL PLANE – Pope Francis on Sunday doubled down on his claim that homosexuality should not be criminalized, saying on the papal plane returning from South Sudan, a country that fined homosexual acts that “to condemn such a person is a sin”.
But the 86-year-old Francis also turned his attention back to Rome, interfering with “unethical” conservative critics who he said had supported the death of his predecessor Benedict XVI. “instrumentalized” and then told lies to further their own ideological and partisan interests.
Francis made the comments in a remarkable joint in-flight press conference with the leader of the Anglican Communion and Scotland’s chief Presbyterian minister after spending six days in Africa, first in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and then in South Sudan. During the trip, he used his global influence and moral authority to draw attention to the plundered and war-torn countries and to promote peace.
He also reiterated his condemnation of the exploitation of Africa by great powers. The continent’s booming population and vibrant Roman Catholic Church make him a crucial factor in the future of the faith, as well as the legacy of Francis as Pope seeking to make the Church more global and responsive to the needs of the poor, hungry, and focus on the oppressed.
But Africa is also vehemently opposed to the more progressive aspects of Francis’ pontificate, particularly increased gay inclusion.
This tension is not unique to the Roman Catholic Church. While the Church of Scotland allows same-sex marriages and its Presbyterian leader, the Rt. Rev. Iain Greenshields, said on the flight that Jesus never turned anyone away, the Anglican Church, like the Vatican, is walking a tightrope. There is a conflict between its more liberal Western churches, which are keen to sanctify same-sex civil marriages and allow such marriages in churches, and its conservative African bishops, who see the recognition of gay marriage as a red line not to be crossed.
And so it was fitting that Francis should be joined on the flight back to Rome by the Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and the symbolic leader of the global Anglican communion, who raised the issue of homosexuality – and the extent to which it affects them – recognized is accepted and legitimized—had upset his own church.
Archbishop Welby said on the plane that his church has made several statements against the criminalization of homosexuality, “but it hasn’t really changed many people’s minds.”
This became clear for both faiths during the Pope’s six days in Africa, where the mere mention of gay people led to immediate condemnation.
“It’s like a witch to me,” said Phaneul Ladu, 37, a Catholic who joined a crowd of more than 70,000 believers for the final event of Francis’ journey: an open-air mass on Sunday morning in Juba, the Capital of South Sudan.
“If you commit a crime, you should be punished,” Mr Ladu said, but he added that whether or not homosexuality should be criminalized was not worth talking about “because it doesn’t exist.”
Abraham Duot, the Anglican bishop from Jonglei state, struck a similar tone as he walked to the stage and in front of the grandstand, where the country’s political leaders, including South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, eyed the crowd.
“South Sudan is different because of culture,” said Archbishop Duot, who also said he did not believe the country criminalized homosexuality or that it was “in our constitution.”
“It’s better for you to have two wives than to go gay or lesbian,” he said.
On Friday evening at the Presidential Palace, where Francis and Mr. Kiir met to discuss steps towards peace, the Archbishop of Juba said, Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla argued that while he believes in change, given all the catastrophes the country – and Africa as a whole – is facing, the issue of homosexuality is not a priority.
“Changes could be made at different stages. For some people it’s not really necessary to make changes in that direction,” he said, adding that he himself has never seen anyone jailed “because they’re gay.” He said that the issue of criminalization is completely absent from the public and private debate in South Sudan.
But he was skeptical that the West would impose its views on sexuality on African cultures. “I believe that these situations cannot be balanced,” said Archbishop Ameyu. “It should be dealt with from country to country.” He added that Francis had made it clear that the most important thing was to respect human dignity.
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, the former primate of the South Sudanese Episcopal Church who took his honorary seat in the presidential palace, took a harder line when asked if African churches could change their position on homosexuality to more closely align with those in Europe.
“We don’t accept that because it’s not part of our lives,” he said, explaining, “We are against it” and “we don’t want it” and “a person’s wickedness cannot be considered something to be discussed.”
Asked specifically about the Pope’s call for governments not to criminalize homosexuality, he added: “That’s the Pope – but I tell you it’s a sin.”
At the papal level, a reporter asked Francis what he would say to families in Congo and South Sudan who rejected their gay children because they followed the teachings of their local churches, which considered homosexuality an unacceptable sin, and what he would say to these priests and bishops.
Francis responded, reminding reporters that in 2013 he had said on a flight back from Brazil: “Who am I to judge a faithful and gay person” and that in 2018, upon his return from Ireland, he had made it clear that families homosexual children should not be rejected.
He also cited an interview last month with The Associated Press in which he acknowledged that some Catholic bishops around the world supported laws that criminalize or discriminate against homosexuality. He said at the time that bishops must recognize the dignity of every human being, but that this is a process.
On Sunday, Francis reiterated that “the criminalization of homosexuality is a problem that needs to be recognised.” Speaking of countries that criminalize homosexuality, and particularly those that impose the death penalty, he repeated: “It’s not fair.”
Archbishop Welby then took the moment to acknowledge that the issue had divided his own church and would be “our main topic of discussion” at this week’s Church of England bishops’ meeting.
On the plane, Francis also raised the issue of same-sex couples as he expressed frustration and even anger at the way Benedict XVI died December 31st and was a North Star for conservatives, even in Africa, for upholding traditional church doctrine – exploited in death by some acolytes.
Francis recalled that someone tried to denigrate him to Benedict when he recognized registered civil unions, who instead consulted with theologians and did nothing.
He said he mentioned it to show the kindness of Benedict, who he said “could talk to me about anything” and who “was always by my side.” Francis dismissed the notion promoted by conservative opponents, most prominently in a new anthology by Benedict’s former secretary. Archbishop Georg Gänsweinthat Benedict was “bitter” on this and other occasions. “That’s bullshit,” Francis said, using an Italianization of a Spanish expression.
“On the contrary,” he said, “I consulted Benedict on several decisions and he agreed.”
“I think Benedict’s death was instrumentalized by people carrying their own water,” Francis added. “These are people of party politics, not of the church.”
He also reiterated his condemnation of a mentality among great powers and financial interests that “Africa is there to be exploited”. Vatican officials said Sunday that China is one of the main perpetrators of this mentality in Africa.
Mr. Ladu, one of the believers who attended the mass, agreed. “What China is doing is negative for Africa,” he said. “They feel they can outsmart a weak system.” He recalled how Francis had declared in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo: “Hands off Africa.”
“I think he meant developed countries,” he said. “But I also think he meant China.”
