Pope Francis held line on gender ideology, had welcoming posture to LGBT community

While he maintained traditional Catholic teachings on gender and sexuality in official documents, the pontiff's actions often told a different, ambiguous story.

"These bishops have to have a process of conversion," he said. "Tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us."

Also in 2023, the controversial Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans - a declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) - issued guidance for priests to bless same-sex couples. The blessings are meant for individuals, not the union itself, according to Pope Francis.

The document states that "one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation."

"At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church's closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing," it reads.

Francis further raised concerns among conservatives when, in 2023, the Vatican ruled transgender people can be baptized and become godparents, provided their participation would not cause "confusion" or scandal.

"All humanity is the tension of differences. It is to grow through the tension of differences," the pope said. "The question of gender is diluting the differences and making the world the same, all dull, all alike, and that is contrary to the human vocation."

Fox News Digital's Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.