Pope Francis suggests reviewing Catholic Church’s 1,000 years practice of celibacy for priests

Pope Francis has hinted that he would review the Roman Catholic Church’s rule of priestly celibacy, describing it as an individual “discipline” rather than a “contradiction” to the church.

Francis, who previously opposed the idea that celibacy was an option for leaders of the church, appeared to make a U-turn during his latest interview with Argentine outlet Infobae in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his election as pope.

Celibacy in the western Church is a temporary prescription,” Francis, 86, remarked.

Celibacy was made a requirement in the Catholic Church around the 11th century, following centuries of tradition for priests to embrace the practice along with vows of abstinence.

Francis had maintained his predecessor’s view, arguing in 2019 that celibacy was a gift to the church, and in 2020, he rejected calls for married men to be ordained during a shortage of priests in the Amazon.

Most recently, Germany’s Catholic Church voted to formally send a request to the Pope to end the requirement, and it appears as though Francis might agree.

Citing the Eastern Rite Catholic Church, which gives more leeway to its priests, Francis said: “Everyone in the Eastern Church is married, or those who want to