LGBT rights groups in the US said on Tuesday that Pope Francis’s document on family values fell short of already low expectations.

The 256-page Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) adopted more tolerant language towards same-sex relationships, but did not include any significant changes to the church’s position on these unions.

“While not expecting a blessing on marriage for lesbian and gay couples, many were anticipating that Pope Francis would offer an affirming message to LGBT people, and not the same ill-informed comments,” said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for LGBT Catholics, in a statement.

Mary Beth Maxwell, of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), said her group was disappointed by the document.

“This was the culmination of two years of often contentious conversations by church leaders, deeply divided on their approach to LGBT people and our families,” said Maxwell, the HRC Foundation’s senior vice-president for programs, research and training. “In many ways, it’s not surprising that while he didn’t make more bold commitments to full inclusion that many people long for, it does seek to create a culture that’s more loving than judging.”

Amoris Laetitia is a product of three years of international consultations about family. The tone of the document suggests that followers should take a less rigid approach in interpreting Catholic teachings, but is steadfast in the church’s opposition to same-sex marriage. Read more via the Guardian