In a watershed moment for the Catholic Church, the Vatican this weekend received its first official LGBTQ pilgrimage, drawing more than 1,400 faithful and allies from 20 countries in what participants hailed as a landmark gesture of recognition and diversity within the centuries-old institution.
The event, part of the Church’s Jubilee holy year celebrations, was organized by La Tenda di Gionata (The Tent of Jonathan), an Italian association pushing for greater inclusivity of LGBTQ Catholics. While pilgrims were not granted a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, the historic recognition of the gathering within the official Jubilee program marked a first in the Vatican’s long history.
From Canada to Belgium, participants journeyed to Rome in a powerful expression of devotion and resilience. Among them was Yveline Behets, a 68-year-old transgender woman from Brussels, who trekked 130 kilometers with 30 fellow LGBTQ pilgrims along the Via Francigena pilgrimage route.
“We are not just some outsiders who are occasionally welcomed,” she declared, proudly donning a rainbow t-shirt. “We are part of the same family.”
On Saturday, pilgrims joined millions before them in walking up the grand road to St. Peter’s Basilica, stepping through the Holy Door — a sacred act symbolizing spiritual renewal. The day also featured a solemn Mass at the Church of the Gesù and a prayer vigil on the eve of their entry.
Hugo, a 35-year-old Canadian from Quebec, described the pilgrimage as “a really important signal for us to feel more included.” He expressed hope that the event would inspire Catholics “on the fence” to show greater compassion and acceptance toward LGBTQ members.
Yet, the journey toward full recognition within the Church remains fraught. For centuries, the Vatican has maintained doctrinal opposition to same-sex unions, deeming homosexual acts contrary to its teachings. Though Pope Francis, before his death in April, opened doors by allowing priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023 — a move that sparked fierce backlash in conservative circles, particularly in Africa — barriers remain entrenched.
Pope Leo XIV, his successor, has upheld the Church’s definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, even as he pledged not to reverse Francis’s historic decision on blessings.
For parents like Beatrice Sarti of Bologna, who accompanied her gay son, the pilgrimage is both a celebration and a call to action.
“Many of our children no longer go to church because they are made to feel wrong. That absolutely needs to change,” she said. “The first step is training educators, seminarians, priests, and bishops to build a more inclusive Church — but it will be a very long process.”
As rainbow banners and prayers echoed through the ancient streets of Rome, the message was clear: LGBTQ Catholics are no longer content to remain on the margins. They are demanding to be seen, heard, and embraced — not as guests, but as family at the heart of the Church.
PIONEER NEWS 