The Vatican will allow Italian gay men to become priests "on the condition that they remain celibate."

The Vatican has approved new guidelines that stipulate candidates applying to seminaries in Italy cannot be rejected based on their sexual orientation. The regulation, which states that gay candidates can also become priests on the condition of remaining celibate, came into effect on January 9 with a three-year trial period.

The Roman Catholic Church has acknowledged that a candidate's sexual orientation should not be an obstacle to priesthood, provided they remain celibate, while not changing its fundamental teaching on homosexuality. According to the guidelines accepted by the Italian Bishops' Conference in November, sexual orientation will be considered just one aspect of a candidate's personality.

Father James Martin, one of the church's supporters of gay Catholics, stated, "For the first time in a Vatican-approved document, it is noted that the acceptance of a gay man into seminary cannot be determined solely by his sexual orientation."

Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, described the decision as "a step forward." DeBernardo stated, "This declaration treats gay candidates the same way heterosexual candidates are treated."

Pope Francis had previously allowed priests to bless same-sex couples but did not bless their unions. However, it seems difficult for bishops in other countries to adopt this decision from the Vatican.