Pope Leo meets LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate and vows continuity with Pope Francis’ legacy of welcome

In a notable early moment of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV received Rev. James Martin—an influential Jesuit author and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Church—in a 30-minute private audience held on September 1, 2025, at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. 

By choosing to make the meeting public through an official Vatican announcement, Pope Leo was clearly signaling a desire to be seen as continuing the welcoming posture of his predecessor, Pope Francis. 

Father Martin shared afterward that Leo conveyed the same spirit he had received from Pope Francis—one of hospitality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals. As Martin put it, “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.” He described the encounter as “wonderful,” “consoling,” “encouraging,” and even “a lot of fun.”

This meeting came just as a Holy Year pilgrimage, organized by LGBTQ+ Catholic groups, was set to journey to the Vatican—another potent symbol of openness and inclusivity. While not officially endorsed by the Vatican, the pilgrimage appears on the Holy Year calendar, showing logistic support and amplified visibility. It’s a further sign of the ongoing pastoral emphasis. 

Pope Francis, whose 2013 quip “Who am I to judge?” became iconic, has a long history of meeting with Martin and encouraging his outreach—even naming him to Vatican communications and synodical roles. Yet, Francis never altered Church teachings that describe homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered.” 

Given Pope Leo’s earlier tenure as Rev. Robert Prevost—when he criticized the “homosexual lifestyle” in 2012—some observers had questioned where his stance would land. But in 2023, as a cardinal, he had acknowledged Francis’ call for inclusivity, saying the Church should welcome people regardless of “lifestyle, work, way to dress,” while affirming unchanged doctrine. 

Reactions to the meeting were diverse. LGBTQ+ advocates praised it as tangible evidence that Pope Leo would uphold Francis’ inclusive model, and that more repressive approaches were becoming relics of the past. Meanwhile, conservative commentators expressed alarm—some calling it a “nightmare scenario.” 

Father Martin also noted that Pope Leo is deeply concerned with global peace and unity, pointing especially to conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar. The Pope underscored that the Church is meant for “todos, todos, todos”—“everyone, everyone, everyone.” 

All in all, the audience with Martin and the upcoming pilgrimage together send a clear, public message: Pope Leo appears intent on sustaining Pope Francis’ path of pastoral outreach—welcoming those on the margins while maintaining continuity with longstanding Church teaching.

Source: AP NEWS