The Vatican has emphasized that, for Catholics, one spouse is sufficient for a lifelong, fulfilling marriage. In a decree approved by Pope Leo on November 25, 2025, the Church’s doctrinal office highlighted the value of monogamy and discouraged multiple sexual relationships, explicitly addressing the practice of polygamy in Africa, including among Catholic communities.
The decree underscores marriage as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, celebrating its “richness and fruitfulness.” It encourages Catholics to dedicate themselves fully to a single partner.
“Every authentic marriage is a unity composed of two individuals, which requires such an intimate and totalising relationship that it cannot be shared with others,” the document states. It also stresses that marriage demands exclusivity, given the equal dignity and rights of both partners.
The question of how to uphold the Church’s teachings on marriage was debated at Vatican summits in 2023 and 2024, convened by the late Pope Francis with cardinals and bishops from around the world. These discussions addressed polygamy in Africa and the emergence of polyamorous relationships in some Western countries.
“Polygamy, adultery, or polyamory are based on the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in a succession of faces,” the decree said.
While the document does not address same-sex relationships or divorce viewed by the Church as incompatible with lifelong marriage it reaffirms that the annulment process is available to assess the validity of marriages and that partners are not obliged to remain in abusive situations.
