In a symbolic gesture that underscores continuity with his predecessor’s pastoral style, Pope Leo XIV has signaled openness towards LGBTQ Catholics after granting a private audience to James Martin, the American Jesuit priest renowned for his outreach to sexual minorities.
The 30-minute closed-door meeting, held inside the Apostolic Palace, was described by Martin as “warm, welcoming, friendly, and deeply encouraging.” Speaking to AFP ahead of a Jubilee pilgrimage of LGBTQ Catholics in Rome later this week, Martin said the Pope’s message was unmistakable: “He intends to continue Pope Francis’s approach of openness to LGBTQ people.”
Martin, who has often been the target of criticism from conservative voices within the Church, emphasized that the Pope’s remarks highlighted a commitment not only to inclusion but also to synodality—the principle of listening and walking together as one body of the faithful.
“Synodality means listening to people, listening to everybody, including LGBTQ people,” Martin noted.
The audience carries weight as Pope Leo XIV steps into the global spotlight following his election on May 8. His silence on the controversial issue of blessings for same-sex couples—approved under Pope Francis in 2023 despite strong backlash from conservative circles in Africa and the United States—has left many wondering where he stands on hot-button doctrinal debates. While Martin confirmed he did not raise the subject directly, the Pope’s emphasis on continuity suggests that the path of dialogue and pastoral compassion will remain central to his pontificate.
Francis’s 12-year reign was marked by unprecedented gestures toward LGBTQ Catholics, consistently urging a “Church open to all,” even as he stopped short of altering doctrine. His reforms culminated in the authorization of same-sex blessings, a decision that polarized the Church and ignited fierce resistance among traditionalists.
The Vatican confirmed the meeting between Pope Leo and Father Martin but offered no additional commentary.
Meanwhile, anticipation is building in Rome as the Jubilee pilgrimage of LGBTQ Catholics—scheduled for Friday and Saturday—forms part of the official Holy Year calendar, underscoring the Vatican’s willingness to provide space for marginalized voices within the global Church.
With this latest audience, Pope Leo XIV appears to be carefully weaving together tradition and reform, signaling that the doors of the Vatican remain open to dialogue, diversity, and dignity for all believers.
PIONEER NEWS 