POPE Francis married 20 couples yesterday, some of whom already live together and have children, in the latest sign that the Arg-entine pontiff wants the Catholic church to be more open and inclusive.

In the first wedding he has performed in his 18-month-old papacy, Francis took each couple through their vows - including Gabriella and Guido, who already had children and thought such a marriage would be impossible, official broadcasting service Radio Vaticana said.

"The people getting ­married on Sunday are couples like many others," the diocese of Rome said in a statement. "Some already live together, some already have children."

The ceremony was the first of its kind in the ­ Vatican since Pope John Paul II presided over a wedding in 2000, when he was the leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics.

Francis, who is the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, has expressed ­tolerance regarding other topics that are traditionally taboo in the Church, asking "who am I to judge?" a gay person "who seeks God and has good will".

His approach contrasts with that of his predecessor, the German Pope Benedict, who said that threats to the traditional family ­undermined the future of humanity.

Bishops from all over the world are due to come to the Vatican in October for a major meeting on the family.