Pope invites transgender prostitutes to dinner at Vatican
The pontiff talks to transgender people. Photo: Vatican News
On November 19, 2022, the Vatican hosted a luncheon organized by the RCC on World Day of the Poor, to which the pope invited transgender female prostitutes from the Italian city of Torvaianica, Reuters reports.
Claudia Victoria Salas, 55, Carla Segovia, 46, and Andrea Paola Torres Lopez work in the sex industry and are very grateful to the Pope, who, like them, is Argentine.
Pope Francis seated Claudia Salas at the table across from him.
"We transgenders here in Italy feel a bit more human because the fact that Pope Francis brings us closer to the Church is a beautiful thing," Carla Segovia said.
Lopez said, "In the past, the church was closed to us; they did not consider us normal people. Then Pope Francis appeared, and the doors of the church opened to us."
Carla Segovia expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church for allowing LGBTQ+ individuals to become godparents. She mentioned that the new norms made her feel more comfortable. Although she considered returning to the faith in which she was baptized, she strayed away after declaring herself transgender.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for all of us transsexuals," said Segovia. "I send the pope a big kiss."
Earlier, it was reported that the Vatican allowed representatives of the LGBTQ+ community to be baptized and act as godparents.
Read also
HCHC Community Holds All-Night Vigil Honoring Philoptochos Society and Its Patron Saints
Special prayers offered for members of the National Board and all Philoptochos chapters in gratitude for their decades of support.
Georgian Church Resumes Construction After Miracle
The foundation of a church was blessed at Georgia's Oncology Center — construction resumes on the Church of Ss. Panteleimon the Healer and John the Baptist.
BREAKING: Met. Arseny Hospitalized After Falling Ill During Court Hearing
Faithful urged to pray as proceedings in Sviatohirsk hierarch’s case continue daily.
Pat. Bartholomew: It Is a ‘Grave Sin’ To Put Politics Before Church Unity
"Those who jeopardize this unity in the name of geopolitical expediencies and base motives for acquiring earthly power—falsely cloaked in spirituality—commit an offense before God and a grave sin," the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
OCA Chancellor Visits Romania and Czech Lands and Slovakia
Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino represents Met. Tikhon at major church events and meetings with hierarchs of sister Churches.
Procession Held in Honor of St. Gabriel of Georgia
On Nov. 1, clergy, Mother Paraskeva, and Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian faithful took part in a procession from the house of St. Gabriel the Confessor and Fool-for-Christ to the Samtavro Monastery.