Catholic priests being allowed to bless same-sex couples is a "seismic shift" within the church, a retired priest has said.
Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples on Monday.
While it means it will be possible to bless same-sex couples it will be "without any type of ritualisation or offering the impression of a marriage," The Vatican said.
"The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union," it added.
Bernard Lynch, a retired Catholic priest who is gay, told Moncrieff he believes the change is 'highly significant.'
"For me, with over 50 years of work in this area, it's a seismic shift," he said.
"We have just turned everything upside down with this statement, I think it's wonderful.
"It's not everything, it's only a step but I'm reminded of the landing on the Moon: you know, one small step.
"Given where you've come from in relation to The Vatican's unspeakable homophobia towards LGBTQI - we were told at the height of the AIDS pandemic that we were disordered in our nature and evil in our love.
"That's only in the last Pontificate."
'Lost respect for church authority'
Mr Lynch said the change by Pope Francis will have implications for the world church.
"We here in Ireland, the global north, we've lost respect for authority in the church with very good reasons," he said.
"In the global south where the church is mainly occupying power places right now - schools, churches, hospitals, orphanages, etc - where there is a very fundamentalist kind of Christianity, I think it's very important that the Pope has said this."
Mr Lynch said he believes Pope Francis is "paying a very high price" for his views.
"He has huge enemies: I have never seen, in my long life as a priest, such hatred towards the Pontiff," he said.
"I'm delighted he's done it, he is a brave man, a man of integrity.
"There's so much more to be done, we can start with women's ordination and we can start with allowing women to talk about their own sexuality... that hasn't even begun.
"So, there is an awful lot to be done but it's a light in what for me was a very dark past in relation to The Vatican and sexual teaching - particularly teachings regarding LGBTQIA+".
Mr Lynch added that he doesn't think most people will be rushing to get a priest's blessing as they are not seeking "approval anymore from the Catholic Church, even though they remain Catholic."
Earlier this year the Pope opened up the possibility of blessing same-sex unions while responding to five conservative cardinals who challenged him to affirm Church teaching on homosexuality.
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