Vatican Welcomes LGBTQ Catholics for International Gathering

Photo: James Martin, SJ/X

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican is scheduled today to host an international meeting of LGBTQ Catholics titled “Listening to the experiences of LGBTQ Catholics," drawing participants from multiple countries to share personal stories. The event was organized by Italian group La Tenda di Gionata and U.S.-based Outreach, founded by Jesuit Father James Martin.

This evening, a prayer vigil at Rome’s Gesù Church, themed “Church – a home for all. Starting from the borders,” is scheduled to feature LGBTQ Christians and families. A rainbow cross carried by pilgrims along the Via Francigena will also be presented, with Bishop Francesco Savino presiding at Mass on September 6 before a Jubilee Pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica’s Holy Door, joined by over 1,000 participants.

The Vatican emphasized that while it is hosting the group and including their activities in the official Jubilee programme, the events are not Vatican-sponsored or formally endorsed. However, the program does include participation in the Angelus prayer with Pope Leo.

Organizers also noted backlash, with La Tenda di Gionata’s Tiziano Fani Braga telling La Repubblica that opposition came largely from anonymous online accounts.

This comes just a few days after James Martin, a Jesuit priest and one of the most outspoken Catholic clergyman when it comes to the LGBTQ agenda, had an audience with the pope. While Leo XIV has not made any comments of his own on the meeting, Martin said that he "heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis," and that he believes Leo "will be continuing with the same openness."

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