Is the Catholic Church Saying That They'll Perform Ceremonies for Civil Unions?

I think he's trying to approve of same sex couples (as in: No, they're not going to automatically burn in hell) stopping short of changing official church policy.

Er, a church doesn't perform civil unions.

We are still second class citizens in the eyes of the Catholic Church. They are way behind the Jews and numerous Protestant denominations.

OP, it's a largely symbolic, yet immensely powerful gesture. Many prejudices have been enshrined in laws based on Christian homophobia (Scalia's "gay" dissents were all based on Catholic-Christian morality). With the Pope's statement, for which I am extremely grateful, much of the Christian dogma used to discriminate against gays now has legitimate authority to be attacked. I do wonder if part of the Pope's timing coincides with ACB's likely ascension to the Court. Now when that ghastly woman makes any anti-gay rulings, she at least will be at odds with her religious leader's remarks.