Pope Leo XIV Meets LGBTQ+ Advocate

Pope Leo XIV met Monday with Rev. James Martin, a leading advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. He encouraged Martin’s ministry just days before a planned Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican, signaling a continued welcome.

Continuing Pope Francis’ Legacy

Martin, a New York-based Jesuit author and editor, told The Associated Press that Pope Leo expressed his intent to continue Pope Francis’ policy of LGBTQ+ acceptance. “I heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis—the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people,” Martin said. He called the meeting “wonderful, consoling, encouraging, and frankly a lot of fun.”

The half-hour audience was publicly announced by the Vatican, emphasizing Leo’s wish to make it known. The meeting marks continuity with Pope Francis, who worked to make the Church more welcoming to LGBTQ+ Catholics—from his famous “Who am I to judge?” remark to allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. Despite this outreach, Francis never changed official Church teaching on homosexual acts.

Leo XIV’s Evolving Stance

Leo’s past positions had raised questions. In 2012, then-Rev. Robert Prevost criticized the “homosexual lifestyle” and media promotion of same-sex relationships. After becoming a cardinal in 2023, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ call for a more inclusive Church while reaffirming doctrine. He said, “We are looking to be more welcoming and open and to say all people are welcome in the Church.”

Martin, who previously worked with Prevost in a synod on the Church’s future, said he found him “a very open, welcoming, inclusive person.” He added that hearing this continuation from Pope Leo was “wonderful.” Leo emphasized his priorities on peace and unity, citing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar, while reminding that the Church is for “todos, todos, todos.”

Holy Year Pilgrimage

Martin helped found Outreach, a ministry promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance. Outreach will participate in a Holy Year pilgrimage sponsored by Italian LGBTQ+ Catholic group “Jonathan’s Tent,” with about 1,200 participants. The pilgrimage includes a Mass at a Jesuit church in Rome, celebrated by the second-highest member of the Italian bishop’s conference.

Although the Vatican does not officially sponsor the pilgrimage, it lists the event on the Holy Year calendar to assist with logistics. Martin said both the pilgrimage and his audience with Leo reflect Church teaching that “Jesus reaches out to people on the margins.” He noted, “If people were happy with Pope Francis’ approach to LGBTQ Catholics, they’re going to be happy with Pope Leo’s approach. He asked me to continue what I’m doing, which was very encouraging.”