“For many priests in Argentina, Brazil and other countries it is very common to give these simple blessings without demanding anything, and to give them even to criminals. Therefore, if two people ask for it, it does not imply demanding moral or canonical perfection to give it,” he highlighted.
“Deep down, Francis’s interest was in safeguarding the freedom and spontaneity of this other type of blessings that are the only priestly gesture we have to give to everyone,” he remarked.
About the many opposition reactions, such as that of the bishops of Africa, who have declared, with the consent of Pope Francis and the prefect himself, that They will not give their blessing to homosexual couples so as not to cause scandalthe Argentine cardinal commented: “I didn’t know what intensity they would have, but I did expect them.”
“What I did not expect is that many bishops and priests who I considered ‘conservative’ sent or publicly expressed their understanding and positive assessment of these ‘pastoral blessings.’ “Sometimes you prejudge people without knowing them well,” he added.