Pope willing to bend celibacy rule

THE Catholic Church should consider allowing married men to become priests, Pope Francis has said, in what would be a radical departure from Vatican teaching.

The policy change would apply only in specific circumstances, for instance in remote areas where priests are in short supply, the pope said. But it would reverse the centuries-old principle that Roman Catholic priests must be celibate.

In an interview with Die Zeit newspaper, the pontiff said he was open to the idea of — married men of deep faith — becoming priests. “We must consider if [it] is a possibility. Then we must determine what tasks they can perform.” — FLEXIBLE POLICY: Pope Francis