Participants Gathered in Rome for the First LGBTQ+ Pilgrimage
In a milestone for LGBTQ+ Catholics, more than 1,400 pilgrims from 20 countries gathered in Rome this weekend for the first officially recognized LGBTQ+ pilgrimage during the Vatican’s Jubilee Year celebrations.
Wearing rainbow-themed attire and carrying crosses, participants took part in prayer vigils, Masses, and other spiritual events. Many were moved to tears as they passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, a traditional rite of passage for Jubilee pilgrims held once every 25 years.
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Jesuit Fr. James Martin, the founder of Outreach, said to The Catholic Reporter, “You could say it’s semi-official. I think it’s pretty historic. I can’t imagine this happening before Pope Francis or before Pope Leo.”
The pilgrimage was included in the Vatican’s official Jubilee calendar, though Vatican officials stressed the listing was logistical rather than an endorsement. “It ensures organizers and pilgrims alike can plan accordingly,” said a spokesperson for the Vatican’s evangelization office, Agnese Palmucci.
Bishop Francesco Savino, vice president of the Italian Bishops Conference, presided over a packed Mass at Rome’s historic Chiesa del Gesù, the main Jesuit church in the city. His homily, which emphasized that Jubilee celebrations are meant to restore hope to those on society’s margins, drew a standing ovation from the congregation of more than 1,000.
The Italian advocacy group Jonathan’s Tent organized the pilgrimage, with participation from international organizations such as DignityUSA and Outreach. About 30 priests concelebrated the Mass, including American Jesuit Father James Martin, a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ Catholics who met privately with Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 1.
The pilgrimage comes amid ongoing debates within the Catholic Church over LGBTQ+ inclusion. Pope Francis, who died in April, did not alter official church doctrine but issued a landmark 2023 decree permitting priests to bless same-sex couples.
