The Archbishop of Philadelphia has reiterated that divorced and remarried couples in his archdiocese should live “as brother and sister”.

Archbishop Charles Chaput issued a set of pastoral guidelines for clergy and other leaders in his diocese, which covers 1.5 million faithful.

“Undertaking to live as brother and sister is necessary for the divorced and civilly remarried to receive reconciliation in the Sacrament of Penance, which could then open the way to the Eucharist,” the guidelines read.

Archbishop Chaput said the new instructions stem from the teachings of Amoris Laetitia, which was issued by Pope Francis in April.