A declaration on the pastoral meaning of blessings, approved by Pope Francis and issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. It distinguishes liturgical and ritual blessings from the spontaneous pastoral blessing that a priest may give to those who ask, and on that basis says that a blessing may be imparted to couples in irregular situations and to same-sex couples, without any ritual form, without resemblance to a marriage rite, and without validating their status. It repeats without change the Church's perennial teaching that marriage is the exclusive, indissoluble and fruitful union of one man and one woman.