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Many observers have credited Francis with drawing people closer to the church precisely because of the simplicity of his language, compared to the dense theological treatises often laid out by his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, who as a cardinal was responsible for penning many of the Vatican’s major documents on hot-button issues, including homosexuality.

The Vatican hand-picked the Pirolas and other model Catholic couples to participate in the synod to give bishops a sense of what real live Catholic families go through and proposals for how the church can help support them. Their intervention showed just how different a synod this is with Francis and his message of welcome running the show.

The Pirolas told the story of how devout Catholic friends reacted when their gay son wanted to bring his partner home to a Christmas gathering.

“They fully believed in the church’s teachings and they knew their grandchildren would see them welcome the son and his partner into the family,” they said. “Their response could be summed up in three words: ‘He’s our son.'”

Nichols said the synod gave them a round of applause.

In an indication, though, that opposition to such a welcoming position remains high, a group of conservative Catholic groups blasted the Pirola’s example as “damaging” to the church.

“The unqualified welcome of homosexual couples into family and parish environments in fact damages everybody, by serving to normalize the disorder of homosexuality,” said Maria Madise, coordinator of Voice of the Family in a statement.

John Smeaton, of the London-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said the welcome that the Pirolas’ statement received from the synod was disturbing.

“The homosexual agenda is forcing its way into schools, universities, workplaces and sports clubs,” he said in a statement. “The last thing families and parishes need is for church leaders to tell them to welcome homosexual couples.”