Pope Francis softened the Vatican’s ban on blessing same-sex couples, saying that priests may use their discretion in giving such blessings, so long as they don’t imply a same-sex union is equivalent to a heterosexual marriage.

The pope’s statement, in a letter released by the Vatican on Monday, marks a significant shift in the Catholic Church’s stance on blessing gay relationships. Its release comes on the eve of a major Vatican meeting that will consider possible changes to church teaching and practice on matters such as homosexuality and women’s ordination.

[I may write more on this tomorrow, but it’s precisely the kind of erosion of doctrine that worried the 2015 Synod on the Family, especially among African bishops dealing with polygamy. Frank Rocca is one of the best in the business and not inclined to hyperbole, so when he writes “significant shift,” take that to the bank. — Ed]