First LGBTQ group visits Vatican

The year 2025 witnessed a significant event in the Catholic Church's Jubilee holy year, as a pilgrimage advocating for greater inclusivity among the faithful took place. Organised by the Italian association, La Tenda di Gionata, the gathering brought together approximately 1,400 people from around 20 countries, forming a global network of Rainbow Catholics known as "Reach" (Reichweite), led by James Martin SJ.

At the forefront of this movement was Hugo, a 35-year-old from Quebec in Canada, who participated in the pilgrimage. Hugo expressed his hopes that the event would encourage people to be more welcoming towards homosexuals in the Church, as he believed it was an important step towards feeling more included.

Beatrice Sarti, an Italian member of La Tenda di Gionata, shared similar sentiments. She acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in terms of shifting mindsets among Catholics and making the Church more welcoming to LGBTQ individuals. Sarti believes that the first step towards change is training educators, seminarians, priests, and bishops at the grassroots level.

The pilgrims walked up the main road to the Vatican, carrying a cross in rainbow colours. Yveline Behets, a 68-year-old transgender woman from Brussels, was among them, having walked 130 kilometers (80 miles) as part of the pilgrimage. Yveline expressed expectations for more "plurality" from the Church and stated that she did not always feel acknowledged by other Catholics.

The pilgrimage was the first to be featured on the official Jubilee programme, although LGBTQ groups have visited the Vatican before. However, the process of change within the Church, with a history spanning two millennia, is a long one. The Catholic Church has traditionally viewed homosexual acts as going against its tenet of procreative sex and considers gay couples "intrinsically disordered".

Pope Francis, who passed away in April, sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive towards the LGBTQ community without altering the doctrine. His decision in 2023 to allow priests to bless same-sex couples faced significant opposition from conservative branches of the Church, particularly in Africa. Pope Leo has affirmed that marriage is a union between a man and a woman but will not reverse Francis's decision regarding blessings for same-sex couples.

Despite these obstacles, many participants in the pilgrimage felt a sense of hope. Hugo, for one, expressed concerns about the barriers and misunderstandings towards the lives of homosexuals within the Church. Yet, he remained optimistic, believing that the pilgrimage was a step in the right direction.

Sarti, too, acknowledged the long road ahead. She lamented that many of her children have stopped attending church because they feel unwelcome due to their sexual orientation. Nevertheless, she remains committed to the cause, working towards a more inclusive Church where all feel welcome and acknowledged.