Cardinal Fridolin Among Besungu leaves after receiving the red three-cornered biretta hat from Pope Francis during a consistory inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2019. In the greatest rebuke of Pope Francis yet, the Catholic hierarchy of Africa and Madagascar issued a unified statement Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, refusing to offer blessings to same-sex couples and reaffirming that such unions are “contrary to the will of God.” The statement, signed by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo on behalf of the symposium of African national bishops conferences, marked the closest thing to a continent-wide dissent from a declaration Francis approved Dec. 18 allowing priests to offer such blessings. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) **FILE**
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