Pope Leo XIV Meets with LGBTQ+ Advocate, Continues Message of Inclusion
Pope Leo XIV recently met with Rev. James Martin, a prominent advocate for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. The meeting took place just days before a planned Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican, signaling a continued welcome for the community.
During the audience, Leo expressed his intention to uphold Pope Francis’s policy of LGBTQ+ acceptance in the church and encouraged Martin to continue his advocacy work. Martin, a New York-based Jesuit author and editor, described the meeting as consoling, encouraging, and fun.
The Vatican officially announced the half-hour meeting, indicating Leo’s desire for transparency. This gesture of continuity with Francis, who worked towards making the Catholic Church a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ Catholics, was significant.
While Francis never changed church teaching on homosexual acts, he emphasized the importance of welcoming all individuals. Leo’s position on LGBTQ+ Catholics had been questioned in the past, but he reassured Martin of his commitment to inclusivity.
Martin, who founded Outreach, a ministry promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance, will participate in a Holy Year pilgrimage organized by the Italian LGBTQ+ Catholic group “Jonathan’s Tent.” The pilgrimage, which includes a Mass at a Jesuit church in Rome, is not officially sponsored by the Vatican but is listed on the Holy Year events calendar.
The pilgrimage and Martin’s audience with Leo send a message consistent with church teaching on reaching out to marginalized groups. Leo’s support for Martin’s advocacy work and his focus on peace and unity demonstrate a commitment to welcoming all individuals into the church.
Overall, the meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Rev. James Martin underscores the church’s message of inclusivity and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals. The continuation of Pope Francis’s approach signals a positive direction for the Catholic Church in embracing diversity and unity.
