LifeSite says Pope Leo named an archbishop who “backed same-sex blessings”. His interview is more qualified, and the date is off

In the interview Bishop Forgáč says many readers misunderstood the Pope’s intention and describes “Francis’s line: a Church whose doors are open to all”, adding: “That does not mean, however, that we would want to deny the values of the Gospel or of moral life.” Asked how the document should be applied, he points to the Slovak bishops’ guidance: it “should not be a blessing that would evoke any kind of confirmation or a sacrament”, should not be given in a solemn form, and those receiving it should express a wish to follow the way of the Gospel (Nové Mesto, July 2024).

The 2023 declaration allows “blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage” (Fiducia Supplicans, presentation). Supporting it means supporting those short, non-liturgical blessings, not blessings of same-sex unions as such.

The Holy See Press Office published the acceptance of Archbishop Bernard Bober’s resignation and Bishop Forgáč’s appointment in its bulletin of 14 October 2026 (Holy See bulletin; Vatican News, in Slovak), the same day as LifeSite’s report. His age, 52, is correct: he was born on 21 January 1974.