The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith did not raise any objections to the baptism of children from same-sex couples, whether adopted or born through surrogacy.

These comments were made in a document issued in response to questions from a Brazilian bishop, drafted on October 31, but made public only now.

The document was approved by Pope Francis, who has repeatedly stated that the Church should be open to everyone, including LGBTQ+ believers.

However, the pontiff has made it clear that he considers homosexuality "a sin, like any sexual act outside of marriage".

Catholic doctrine defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman with the purpose of procreation.

In the document, the congregation specifies that these transgender believers "can receive baptism under the same conditions as other believers, provided there is no situation that could risk causing public scandal or uncertainty among the faithful".

The same advice applies to anyone who has undergone hormone treatment and/or gender reassignment surgery, the statement notes.

When asked if two people of the same sex forming a couple could be considered the parents of a child about to be baptized, the response was that there must be a "well-founded hope" that the child will be educated in the Catholic faith.