Meeting editor/author the Rev. James Martin of New York, Pope Leo XIV said he intends to include LGBTQ+ parishioners within the Catholic Church ahead of their planned Holy Year pilgrimage to Vatican City, the UPI noted, citing The National Catholic Reporter.
Pope Leo XIV. Photo © Vatican Media“I heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis, which is the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people,” Martin told The Associated Press. “It was wonderful. It was very consoling and very encouraging and, frankly, a lot of fun.”
Martin co-founded Outreach—a Catholic ministry that promotes queer inclusion—and will participate in the Holy Year pilgrimage to Vatican City on Sept. 5-6.
The Chicago-born pontiff’s position regarding the LGBTQ+ community was unknown after he criticized what he called the “homosexual lifestyle” in 2012 while serving the church and was still known as the Rev. Robert Prevost. After being elevated to a cardinal in 2023, Prevost told Catholic News Service he did not oppose predecessor Pope Francis’ inclusion of members due to the choices that they make in their personal lives.
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