Pope Leo XIV Meets Jesuit Advocate, Affirms Continuity with Francis on LGBTQ+ Welcome
Audience with Rev. James Martin comes days before a planned Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican
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 while signaling a continuation of Pope Francis’ approach to pastoral outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
The half-hour audience, which the Vatican publicly announced, came days before a planned Holy Year pilgrimage by LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican. After the meeting, Martin, a New York-based Jesuit author and editor, said Leo told him he intended to continue Francis’ policy of welcoming LGBTQ+ people 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. He described the encounter as "wonderful, consoling and very encouraging," and said the tone of the meeting had been warm and amicable.
The Vatican's decision to announce the audience underscored that the meeting was intended to be public. Observers and advocates saw the encounter as an early sign of continuity with Francis, who since his election in 2013 has been viewed as more pastoral and inclusive toward LGBTQ+ Catholics than many predecessors. Supporters note Francis' public statements over the years, including his 2013 remark "Who am I to judge?" about a purportedly gay priest, as emblematic of a shift in tone within the church.
Martin has been one of the most visible Catholic voices calling for greater inclusion and pastoral outreach to LGBTQ+ people, authoring books and speaking widely on the subject. He has frequently urged the church to emphasize accompaniment and welcome while engaging in theological discussion.
The planned Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to Rome, set to take place shortly after the audience, was organized by groups seeking recognition and pastoral inclusion during the Vatican's Jubilee celebrations. The audience and the timing of the pilgrimage together were read by advocates as a continuation of the more welcoming posture toward LGBTQ+ faithful that characterized much of Francis' papacy.
The Vatican did not announce any immediate changes to doctrine or formal policy following the meeting. Officials described the audience as part of the pope's engagements with members of the global church and with clergy involved in pastoral ministry. Pope Leo's public encouragement of Martin's work signals an emphasis on pastoral outreach as the Vatican marks the Holy Year.
Martin said he planned to continue his ministry and advocacy. No further audiences or meetings were announced publicly by the Vatican in connection with the pilgrimage as of Monday.