The Vatican on Tuesday declared that Catholics do not need “complicated maths” to understand marriage, reaffirming that the Church recognises only one spouse per person and rejects practices such as polygamy and polyamory.
In a new decree approved by Pope Leo, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith restated that the Church’s 1.4 billion members are expected to pursue a lifelong union with a single partner and avoid multiple sexual relationships.
The document sharply criticised the persistence of polygamy in some African communities, including among Catholics, insisting that marriage remains a covenant between one man and one woman, bound by exclusivity and permanence.
‘Marriage Demands Exclusivity’
“Every authentic marriage is a unity composed of two individuals, which requires such an intimate and totalising relationship that it cannot be shared with others,” the decree said.
It added that because both partners possess equal dignity and rights, the union “demands exclusivity.”
The decree did not address same-sex relationships but instead focused on what it called the “richness and fruitfulness” of traditional Christian marriage. It encouraged Catholics to fully commit to one spouse and build a lifelong relationship rooted in faithfulness.
Debate at Previous Vatican Summits
The announcement follows extensive discussions at Vatican synods in 2023 and 2024, convened by the late Pope Francis, where cardinals and bishops examined the future of the Church. Polygamy in parts of Africa was a key topic, as was the growing trend of polyamorous relationships in Western societies.
The new decree described these practices as misguided, arguing that they rely on “the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in a succession of faces.”
Divorce Still Not Recognised
The text did not touch on divorce, which the Catholic Church does not recognise, viewing marriage as a lifelong bond. However, it reiterated that the Church’s annulment process remains available to assess whether a marriage was validly contracted.
It also stressed that the Church does not expect individuals to remain in abusive relationships and encourages anyone facing harm to seek protection