Pope Francis has suggested that the Catholic Church is willing to consider a review of its thousand-year-old tradition of celibacy, as reported by the Daily Mail.

According to him, the prohibition was only ‘temporary,’ and there was ‘no inconsistency’ in a priest getting married.

The Catholic Church instituted the requirement of celibacy in the 11th century for financial motives, as clergy members who did not have children were more inclined to bequeath their assets to the church.

While the Vatican enforces the rule of celibacy among priests, there is an increasing demand to lift the ban.

Following the resolution passed by Germany’s Catholic Church, there has been a call for the Pope to abolish the mandatory celibacy rule for priests.

In an interview with Argentine publication Infobae, Pope Francis, 86, said: “There is no contradiction for a priest to marry. Celibacy in the western Church is a temporary prescription.”

“It is not eternal like priestly ordination, which is for ever whether you like it or not. On the other hand, celibacy is a discipline,” as reported by the Daily Mail.

Written by staff