More than 1,000 LGBTQ Catholics and supporters gathered in Rome for a historic pilgrimage aimed at promoting inclusivity within the Church.
The Vatican on Saturday hosted its first official LGBTQ pilgrimage, drawing about 1,400 participants from 20 countries as part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee holy year. Organized by Italian advocacy group La Tenda di Gionata, the event marked the first time an LGBTQ pilgrimage featured on the official Jubilee programme.
Pilgrims walked along the Via Francigena route to Rome, with many expressing hopes for greater inclusion within the Church. “We are part of the same family,” said Yveline Behets, a 68-year-old transgender woman from Brussels.
Participants attended mass at the Church of the Gesu before processing to St. Peter’s Basilica to step through the Holy Door, a symbolic act of faith.
Despite Pope Francis’s past efforts to welcome LGBTQ Catholics, the Church maintains its stance against same-sex marriage. Pope Leo XIV has upheld Francis’s decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples, despite opposition from conservative factions.
Advocates say the pilgrimage is a significant step, but major challenges remain.