Pope Leo XIV met Monday with the Rev. James Martin, a prominent advocate for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church, and encouraged his ministry. The audience, which lasted about half an hour, was officially announced by the Vatican, signalling that the new pontiff wanted it made public.
Martin, a New York-based Jesuit author and editor, said Leo told him he intended to continue Pope Francis’ policy of LGBTQ+ acceptance and urged him to keep up his advocacy. “I heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis, which is the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people,” Martin told the Associated Press after the meeting.
The audience came just days before a planned Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican, organised by the Italian group “Jonathan’s Tent.” The pilgrimage includes a Mass at a Jesuit church in Rome celebrated by the second-highest member of the Italian bishops’ conference. While not officially sponsored by the Vatican, it is listed on the Vatican’s calendar of Holy Year events.
Leo’s position on LGBTQ+ issues had been uncertain after remarks surfaced from 2012 in which he criticised the “homosexual lifestyle.” However, as a cardinal in 2023, he acknowledged Francis’ call for a more inclusive church, saying all people are welcome. Martin, who worked with Leo during the synod on the church’s future, said he was not worried about Leo’s views, describing him as “a very open, welcoming, inclusive person.”
Martin added that Leo told him his priorities include working for peace and unity, particularly in Ukraine, Gaza and Myanmar. He also quoted Leo as saying the church is for “todos, todos, todos” – echoing Francis’ famous Spanish phrase meaning “everyone.”
“The message was that if people were happy with Pope Francis’ approach to LGBTQ Catholics, they’re going to be happy with Pope Leo’s approach,” Martin said. “And he asked me to continue what I’m doing, which was very encouraging.”
