In a Vatican address, Pope Francis proclaimed sexual pleasure as “a gift from God,” emphasizing the need for its disciplined enjoyment with patience. 

He cautioned against pornography, denouncing its provision of “satisfaction without relationship” and its potential to lead to addiction. The pontiff, addressing what he termed “the demon of lust,” delivered this sermon amid conservative Catholic criticism of Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the new head of doctrine. 

Cardinal Fernández faced backlash for a decades-old book that explored human sexuality, featuring detailed descriptions of orgasms. The Pope’s recent sermon, however, was unrelated to these critiques.

Pope Francis asserted that lust devastates relationships, citing the prevalence of toxic relationships in contemporary society. 

This discourse followed his previous address on the vice of gluttony. Meanwhile, Cardinal Fernández, in December, introduced guidelines approved by the Pope, permitting priests to bless same-sex couples, though he clarified it didn’t change the Church’s stance on homosexuality. 

The move elicited strong condemnation from conservative figures, including Cardinal Gerhard Müller, who labeled it a “sacrilegious and blasphemous act.” Tensions within the Catholic Church escalated, culminating in the Pope evicting outspoken critic Cardinal Raymond Burke and revoking his salary.

#MaltaDaily