Lauge Risom Koch 
A Russian publisher has censored sections of Pope Francis’s autobiography where he argues that homosexuality is not a crime.
A Russian publishing house has censored the newly released autobiography of Pope Francis. The redacted sections specifically remove his personal thoughts regarding same-sex unions and transgender individuals. This alteration highlights the ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ-related content within the Russian literary market.
Redacting the pontiff’s words
The censorship was first brought to public attention by an independent Moscow bookstore. According to a report by Meduza, the Primus Versus shop shared photographs showing pages covered in black stripes. The publisher Alpina released the altered book detailing the life and leadership of the former pope.
Theologian Natallia Vasilevich quickly noticed the discrepancies between the localized release and the original text. As noted by Meduza, she acquired both versions to systematically compare the missing passages. She subsequently published the restored Russian translation of the censored fragments on her Telegram channel.
The erased text primarily addressed a Vatican declaration allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. The original manuscript emphasized that the church blesses the individuals rather than the union itself. Francis noted that this approach stems from a desire to welcome everyone without doctrinal shifts.
Welcoming marginalized communities
The censored passages featured Francis extending an invitation to historically excluded groups. According to excerpts published by Meduza, the former pope explicitly welcomed divorced, homosexual, and transgender people into the Catholic Church. He recalled encounters with transgender individuals who were deeply touched by his acceptance.
The former pontiff affirmed the religious rights of transgender believers within the global church. He clarified that they may be baptized under the exact same conditions as any other Catholic. Furthermore, the spiritual leader noted that canon law allows them to act as godparents or marriage witnesses.
Francis also used the book to condemn the global criminalization of sexual minorities. He noted that over sixty countries currently classify homosexual and transgender people as criminals. He argued that the church cannot remain indifferent, firmly stating that homosexuality is not a crime.
Preaching unconditional love
The final redacted sections focused on God’s unconditional love for all human beings. As highlighted by Meduza, Francis insisted that sexual minorities are not children of a lesser god. He wrote that God accompanies every person with mercy and tenderness regardless of their identity.
The former pope questioned his own authority to exclude anyone from the religious community. He quoted the founder of Caritas in Rome to emphasize the dangers of rejecting vulnerable populations. The original text warned that excluding others ultimately reveals the flawed character of the excluder.
Reflecting on his pastoral life, Francis maintained that he always accompanied marginalized believers. He asked those who experienced rejection to view it as the failure of an individual rather than the institution. The former pope concluded the censored segment by describing the church as a mother calling her children together.
