The Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions. Such blessings, therefore cannot "be considered licit", according to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) which issued on March 15, 2021, a Response to a dubium that had been presented. Therefore, it is not licit for priests to bless homosexual couples who ask for some type of religious recognition of their union. The CDF says Pope Francis was informed and "gave his assent" to the publication of the Response and an accompanying Explanatory Note signed by the Prefect, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, and the Secretary, Archbishop Giacomo Morandi. The Holy See Press Office also published an Article of Commentary on the Responsum ad dubium.