Campaigners welcome Pope Leo's pastoral stance of LGBT+ inclusion

Fr James meets Pope Leo - Image Vatican Media

Source: LGBT+ Westminster, Vatican Media

After a private meeting with Pope Leo in 1 September, James Martin SJ who was in Rome leading a five day pilgrimage of LGBTQ Catholics, wrote on X: "I was honoured and grateful to meet with the Holy Father @Pontifex this morning in an audience in the Apostolic Palace, and moved to hear the same message I heard from Pope Francis on LGBTQ Catholics, which is one of openness and welcome."

"I found Pope Leo to be serene, joyful, and encouraging," Father Martin posted. "For me, it was a deeply consoling meeting. Please pray for the Holy Father!"

Fr Martin later wrote in Outreach: "The message I received from him, loud and clear, was that he wanted to continue with the same approach that Pope Francis had advanced, which was one of openness and welcome. So, it was very much a hopeful message of continuity."

"This is, in Pope Leo's mind, naturally tied to 'synodality,' the idea that the church must listen to people from all walks of life (including LGBTQ people) to become more open, more listening, more welcoming and more inclusive. Again, this is very much in line with Pope Francis's desires and his famous words "todos, todos, todos" to describe the church. This is also in line with Leo's public embrace of synodality, not simply as a Synod delegate, but as a pope whose very first speech after his election mentioned what is now a "constitutive dimension" of the church.

LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council said in a statement they "welcome the indications that Pope Leo will maintain the pastoral stance of LGBT+ inclusion initiated by the late Pope Francis.

"Since his post-election appearance on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo has clearly stated his commitment to a Synodal Church, the whole people of God journeying together.

We look forward to his response to the reports of the 10 Synodal Study Groups which deal with specific topics, including LGBT+ inclusion in Study Group 9, when these are submitted in December 2025. This will give further evidence of the pastoral and theological approach which the Pope intends to pursue."

LINK

Fr James message in Outreach: https://outreach.faith/2025/09/father-james-martin-pope-leos-message-for-lgbtq-catholics/