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.
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