In a defining moment for the Catholic Church’s relationship with the LGBTQ community, Pope Leo XIV met with Rev. James Martin, one of the most prominent advocates for LGBTQ inclusion, on Monday at the Vatican. The conversation came just days before thousands of LGBTQ Catholics are set to participate in a Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome.
Rev. Martin, a New York-based Jesuit author and editor, revealed that Pope Leo offered reassurance that he intends to continue the inclusive vision championed by Pope Francis.
“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. “It was wonderful. It was very consoling and very encouraging and frankly a lot of fun.”
The half-hour meeting was publicly announced by the Vatican, a deliberate move that highlights the new pope’s desire for transparency and openness.
Pope Francis, during his 12-year papacy from 2013 to 2025, shifted global perceptions of the Catholic Church with his hallmark message of welcome. From his iconic “Who am I to judge?” remark in 2013 regarding a gay priest, to permitting priests to bless same-sex couples, Francis made pastoral care a central priority.
While Francis never changed official church teaching, which continues to hold that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered,” he consistently emphasized compassion and inclusion.
Pope Leo’s stance, however, had been under scrutiny. Earlier remarks from 2012 surfaced in which he criticized the “homosexual lifestyle” and media portrayals of same-sex relationships. When questioned again as a cardinal in 2023, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ commitment to inclusivity, stating:
“But we are looking to be more welcoming and more open and to say all people are welcome in the church.”
Martin, who had worked alongside Leo (then Cardinal Robert Prevost) during the synod on the Church’s future, said he had always known him to be “a very open, welcoming, inclusive person.”
“But it’s wonderful to hear this continuation,” he added, noting that Pope Leo emphasized his broader priorities: peace and unity amid conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar.
The pope also echoed Francis’ message that the Church is for everyone, reminding Martin of the famous line: “todos, todos, todos.”
The upcoming pilgrimage, organized by the Italian LGBTQ Catholic group “Jonathan’s Tent,” is expected to draw about 1,200 participants. The event will feature a Mass celebrated at a Jesuit church in Rome, led by the second-highest official of the Italian bishop’s conference.
Although not directly sponsored by the Vatican, the pilgrimage is listed in the Holy Year events calendar—a gesture that signals openness, even if not official endorsement.
For Martin, the convergence of his private audience and the pilgrimage sends a powerful message: the Church is living out its mission of reaching those on the margins.
“The message he received from Leo was ‘that if people were happy with Pope Francis’ approach to LGBTQ Catholics, they’re going to be happy with Pope Leo’s approach. And he asked me to continue what I’m doing, which was very encouraging,’” Martin said.
