Pope Francis sends letter praising gay children's book

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VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has sent his blessing to a lesbian author of children's books dealing with same-sex families, wishing her and her wife well in their work, it emerged today.

As Vatican officials scrambled to clarify that the message was simply a standard courtesy which did not signal any change in Church teaching on the subject, the author told AFP she had been pleasantly surprised to have received such a positive response.

Francesca Pardi, who writes and publishes books such as "Why you have two mummies," wrote to Francis in June after the publishing company she runs with her wife came under fire from Christian groups

She included examples of her works, some of which have recently been controversially withdrawn from nurseries and primary schools by a new mayor in Venice.

Francis has signalled that he wants the Church to adopt a more pragmatic and understanding approach to the situation of believers living in gay relationships, an attitude reflected in his famous "who am I to judge" remark on the subject.

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Contrary to Pope's stand on the issue.