Pope Says He's Open To Letting Married Catholic Men Become Priests

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Pope Francis says he's open to the idea of allowing married men to become ordained as priests.

In an interview with a German newspaper, the pope said the Catholic Church should consider the move to combat a shortage of clergy.

However, the pontiff ruled out the idea of allowing men who are already priests to marry.

The church currently allows married priests who convert to Catholicism to continue serving, but does not allow married Catholic men to take holy orders.