More than 1,000 LGBTQ Catholic and their families passed through the holy door of St. Peter Basilica later this week, as part of a Jubilee pilgrimage listed in the official holy year calendar of the Vatican.
The event appeared on its website under the neutral title “Tanda de Gionata Association (Jonathan Tent) and other associations of other associations” on its website.
For the first time, a LGBTQ pilgrimage has been included in the Jubilee program in the Vatican.
Many pilgrims saw it as a signs of reception after the Pope Francis’ 12-year-old sinner, while critics in the Catholic media destroyed the move as reduced the church tradition.
Pope Leo continues to welcome Pope Francis of LGBT community in Catholic Church
Andrea Matei, holding a rainbow cross, comes with other members of the LGBTQ+ community to participate in a vigilant prayer on mid -Rome, Friday, September 5, 2025 with other members of the LGBTQ+ community. (AP Photo/Andrew Medicine)
Some participants cried as soon as they entered Basilica. Justin del Rosario told The Associated Press, “It just felt the epic, as I was able to touch God’s hand.”
The pilgrims came from America, Italy and Brazil. The groups consisted of a delegation from Dignityusa, Outreach and Rome.
Many people pointed to the record of Pope Francis, from their 2013 comments, “Who am I am?” For their decisions, priests were allowed to bless the same-sex couples as paving the way for pilgrimage. Francis was repeatedly met with LGBT advocates while never changing the teaching of church on homosexuality.
The Pope Leo opposes sharing Pope residence with four colleagues broken with tradition
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ Catholic and some of their families who joined a sacred year pilgrimage in Rome, celebrated a new level of acceptance in the Catholic Church and credited Pope Francis for change, Vatican, Saturday, 6, 2025 passing through the holy doors of St. Peter Basilica. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Leo XIV, his sinner, not only mentioned LGBTQ Catholic during his Jubilee audience, but met Jesuit F F in private this week. James Martin, who said that the holy father echoed Francis’s reception message.
The Vatican officials insisted that adding the pilgrimage to the calendar was logical, not support. Vatican spokesman Agnes Pamuchi told Reuters, “They are not sponsored activities. Once it is known that there is place, we put a pilgrimage in the general calendar,” Vatican spokesman Agnis Pamuchi told Reuters.
The online response showed sharp division.
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ Catholic and some of their families who joined a sacred year pilgrimage in Rome, celebrated a new level of acceptance in the Catholic Church and credited Pope Francis for change, Vatican, Saturday, 6, 2025 passing through the holy doors of St. Peter Basilica. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
“Yes, the first LGBTQ+ pilgrimage of the Vatican is approved a few months before the end of this week under the Pope Leo approved by Pope Francis.” Posted Pope Crave (@Clubconcrave) on X.
Others condemned it as betrayal with theory. “F — Rules inside St. Peter. LGBT Group La Tanda de Gionata today makes its entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica … This is the new church. Pope Francis’s legacy, staring at,” Catholic commentator Michael J. Matt (@Michael_J_MATT) posted photos from Basilica on X.
Click here to get Fox News app
The Vatican did not immediately respond to the request of Fox News Digital for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
