Vatican Welcomes First Group of LGBTQ Individuals on a Pilgrimage
In a significant move towards inclusivity, over 1,400 LGBTQ Catholics and their supporters are currently participating in a pilgrimage within Vatican City during the Catholic Church's Jubilee holy year. The event, organised by La Tenda di Gionata, an Italian association advocating for greater inclusivity among the faithful, is the first of its kind to feature on the official Jubilee programme.
Participants, including Beatrice Sarti, an Italian mother accompanying her gay son, and Yveline Behets, a 68-year-old transgender woman from Brussels, have walked up the main road to the Vatican, carrying a cross in rainbow colours. Both women emphasise the need for a shift in mindsets among Catholics.
Yveline Behets, who walked 130 kilometres (80 miles) to participate, expects more "plurality" from the Church after experiencing difficulties with other Catholics. Beatrice Sarti believes educators, seminarians, priests, bishops, and the Church at the grassroots level should be trained to address these issues, acknowledging that it is a long process.
Hugo, a 35-year-old participant from Quebec in Canada, expresses concerns about fears and misunderstandings within the Church regarding the lives of homosexuals. He believes the LGBTQ pilgrimage is "a really important signal for us to feel more included". Hugo also hopes the pilgrimage will encourage people to be more welcoming towards homosexuals in the Church.
The Catholic Church, with a history of viewing homosexual acts as against its procreative sex tenet, still faces a long road towards acceptance. Pope Francis, who passed away in April, aimed to make the Church open to all and made overtures to the LGBTQ community without changing the doctrine. His decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023 faced fierce opposition from conservative branches of the Church, particularly in Africa.
However, the current pope, Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost), elected on May 8, 2025, has stated that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. He has not yet made a decision allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. Many participants in the pilgrimage, including Hugo, believe that greater understanding between Church members could lead to the breakdown of barriers.
Unfortunately, many children are leaving the Church because they feel unwelcome, according to Beatrice Sarti. This needs to change if the Church is to remain relevant and inclusive for future generations. The pilgrimage is a step towards creating a more welcoming and accepting environment within the Church.
As participants stepped through the Holy Door into Saint Peter's basilica, it marked a significant moment in the Church's journey towards inclusivity. The pilgrimage serves as a powerful symbol of hope and a call for change within the Catholic Church.
