Rome, September 6, 2025 — In a landmark moment for the Catholic Church, more than 1,400 LGBTQ Catholics and their supporters from approximately 20 countries have arrived in Rome for a Holy Year pilgrimage, marking the first time such a gathering has been formally included in the Vatican’s Jubilee program.
This pilgrimage, organized by the Italian advocacy group La Tenda di Gionata (“Jonathan’s Tent”), is listed in the Vatican’s official Holy Year calendar—not as an endorsement, but to facilitate logistics for pilgrims like any other Jubilee event.
On Friday evening at Rome’s Church of the Gesù, a standing-room-only prayer vigil drew around 1,200 people, who gathered to pray in preparation for Saturday’s Mass and passage through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica—a rite of spiritual renewal and inclusion in Jubilee tradition.
During Mass at St. Peter’s, Bishop Francesco Savino, vice president of the Italian Bishops Conference, moved the crowd with his message:
“It is time to restore dignity to everyone, especially those who have been denied it.”
He confirmed that Pope Leo XIV had personally authorized the Mass, telling him: “Go, celebrate the Mass with them.”
Broader Context
Since the 2025 Holy Year began on Christmas Eve 2024, the Vatican has sought to accommodate a wide spectrum of pilgrim groups—but this is the first activation of an LGBTQ-focused pilgrimage within the official program.
The pilgrimage echoes Pope Francis’s more inclusive pastoral tone—his famous “Who am I to judge?” comment, approval of blessings for same-sex couples, and outreach during his papacy helped pave the way.
Now, with Pope Leo XIV, a former skeptic of the so-called “homosexual lifestyle,” taking the helm, this event becomes an early barometer of his leadership. Reports indicate he met privately with Rev. James Martin, a prominent LGBTQ advocate, offering support for his ministry and signaling possible continuity with Francis’s more inclusive ethos.
Reflections & Implications
This weekend’s pilgrimage is profoundly symbolic:
- It visibly affirms the spiritual journey of LGBTQ Catholics, who have often felt excluded from full participation in church life.
- It signals institutional openness, even if not doctrinal shift—and underscores Pope Leo’s willingness to support such pastoral inclusion.
- Yet, the event also highlights ongoing tensions: conservative dissent remains vocal, and doctrinal teachings on marriage remain unchanged.
If sustained, this inclusivity could become foundational to a more compassionate, listening Church—one where identity and faith coexist without contradiction.
In my view, this pilgrimage embodies hope and healing. It honors tradition while quietly rewriting the script of belonging. It’s not an end—but a powerful beginning toward true inclusion in faith.
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