Pope Francis criticized U.S. religious conservatives opposing his decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples during a recent 60 Minutes interview. The 87-year-old Catholic leader described such conservatives as those who "cling to something and do not want to see beyond that," calling it a "suicidal attitude." He emphasized the need to consider tradition while remaining open-minded. The Pope called homosexuality “a human fact” and reiterated his December 2023 directive permitting blessings for same-sex couples, though not equating it with church approval of same-sex marriage. This move has faced backlash, especially from African bishops who deem it culturally inappropriate and potentially confusing. Pope Francis dismissed these criticisms as coming from "small ideological groups" and urged clerics to empathize with the suffering of people. In November 2023, Pope Francis dismissed Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland, a vocal critic accusing him of undermining the Catholic faith. Despite the controversy, the Pope remains steadfast, acknowledging that solitude is a price he has to pay for his decisions. He also lamented the lack of "brotherly discussion" among detractors. Pope Francis has consistently urged the church to avoid divisive issues like homosexuality while advocating for tolerance and supporting same-sex unions and celibate gay priests. This LGBTQ+ empathising 60 Minutes interview with Pope is aired against the backdrop of the recent UMC General Conference, where LGBTQ+ supportive decisions were taken. Does is mean we can expect the churches to be more liberal in the future? #Queer Up Religion