FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS: A “NOVELTY” IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH AND BLESSING?

Abstract

On 18 December 2023, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published Fiducia Supplicans (FS), a declaration on the pastoral meaning of blessings. This document has brought many Catholics and non-Catholics to express their thoughts on Catholic doctrine. The controversy surrounding Fiducia Supplicans made many people reflect more profoundly on the sacraments and their roles in the
modern world. In fact, following its publication, the document received  several reactions from the perspectives of the sacrament of holy matrimony, erroneously giving the impression that it validates samesex union. Hence, far beyond understanding this document as simply a pastoral creativity, this essay analyses the declaration in ecclesiological and sacramental lines. This article demonstrates how liturgy and pastoral care dynamically interact with one another to create a better witness of God’s presence and human well-being. The article also underscores the strengths and limitations of Fiducia Supplicans as it concerns sacramental blessing.