Marriage To All

"Pope Marries 20 Cohabiting Couples in Sign of Papacy Shift"
By: David Willey
Source: BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29198491

Pope Francis conducted a mass wedding of over twenty couples, including those who were cohabiting and one who had a child. Pope Francis was asked to marry forty different couples who had differing social backgrounds and were considered "modern day couples". This type of marriage ceremony had not occurred in fourteen years. Pope Francis has been open-minded about marriage and family values compared to his predecessor. This mass ceremony took place on Sunday at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  The wedding came three weeks before the formal meeting of Catholic bishops from all around the world, concerning family values. This ceremony lasted two hours in Rome and the Pope mentioned that "marriage is not an easy road, it is sometimes a contentious trip but that is life"(1). Under the leadership of Pope Francis the church is accepting the fact that couples live together before marriage and divorce and marry without getting an annulment. He mentioned in one of his sermons that families are what make and shape our society and that couples should be forgiven if they ever obey the church teaching. In his eighteen-month papacy this was Pope Francis' first marriage ceremony. It has been decided that the world's clergy will come together in Rome in October to speak about issues such as divorce and marriage. A large survey will be handed out at the Vatican to find out what Catholics think about family life and marriage.

Pope Francis is doing a wonderful job as Pope and making sure that couples be forgiven for not following the specific rules of the church before marriage. The Pope seems lenient about marriage, unlike any Pope before him. He should be an example to his followers.