Vatican city: "One woman is enough," the Vatican has reaffirmed to Catholic men, emphasizing that for Catholics, marriage can only unite one man and one woman. This declaration was made on Tuesday with the approval of a new decree by Pope Leo XIII, highlighting that polygamy, adultery, and multiple relationships (polyamory) are incompatible with Church doctrine.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a note titled "One Flesh (Una caro). In Praise of Monogamy," reminding the 1.4 billion faithful that marriage requires an exclusive and lasting commitment. The document emphasizes that every authentic marriage is a unity composed of one man and one woman-a relationship so intimate and total that it cannot be shared with others.

The Holy See's decree explicitly rejects practices such as adultery, polygamy-still observed in some Catholic communities in Africa-and polyamory, which has gained some acceptance in Western societies. The document argues that these practices are based on the "illusion that the intensity of the relationship is found in a succession of people," a view firmly opposed by the Church.

The decree further underscores that Christian marriage is founded on the "richness and fruitfulness" of the traditional union between a man and a woman. It invites believers to choose one spouse and commit to them for life, responding to concerns raised by African and Western bishops in recent years regarding polygamy and polyamory.

While the document clarifies the Church's stance on these issues, it does not address the topics of homosexual relationships or divorce. The Church continues to uphold marriage as a lifelong commitment, though it acknowledges the annulment procedure, which assesses the validity of a marriage, allowing partners to legally separate in cases of toxic relationships.