ROME – Hundreds of LGBTQ Catholics gathered in Rome this week for the first officially recognized LGBTQ pilgrimage, culminating in a procession through St. Peter’s Basilica and the Holy Door, marking a historic moment of visibility and reconciliation.
An immense crowd of approximately 1,200 people attended a Prayer Service for LGBTQ Catholics at the Church of the Gesù, standing-room-only as they prepared for the Mass and procession the following day. “We gathered in preparation for tomorrow’s Mass at the Gesù and procession through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica,” Fr. James Martin, Director of Communications at the Vatican said on his X account.
Participants sang and walked in a joyful procession, celebrating a sense of welcome that many said had been long denied by the Church.
For many, the event was the culmination of decades of advocacy. “33 years ago when I started working on this issue, I would have never imagined that I would be here today,” said one participant, highlighting the significance of the moment.
Observers credit Pope Francis for taking bold steps to make the Church more inclusive for gay Catholics, a legacy that Pope Leo XIV appears set to continue.
Meeting a leading advocate for LGBTQ Catholics in the days before the pilgrimage, Pope Leo reaffirmed a commitment to openness and listening, signaling continuity with Francis’ reforms.
While the pilgrimage was largely celebratory, it was not without controversy. Some critics have expressed anger at the Church’s outreach, questioning whether it signals a shift in traditional teachings.
Comments from detractors included, “Do you realize what this means? Your pope doesn’t think it’s such a grave sin because he’s allowing this. Either he’s not a pope or your religion is a joke. In any case your church is in contradiction. Denounce Leo now or suck it up.”
Despite criticism, pilgrims expressed hope that the event will inspire future generations of LGBTQ Catholics. “It’s inspiring for me personally, and I hope it’s inspiring for younger people who feel the Church doesn’t speak to them,” one attendee said.
The pilgrimage, combined with the Prayer Service at the Gesù, marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church, sending a message of reconciliation, welcome, and the possibility of inclusion for LGBTQ members within the faith, even as debates about tradition and doctrine continue.
