Pope Francis held a private meeting with LGBTQ activists, including a transgender man, a Catholic sister, and a U.S. doctor who provides gender-affirming care. The activists urged the Pope to overturn the Catholic Church’s ban on such care, which was reaffirmed by the Vatican’s doctrinal office six months prior. LGBTQ groups criticized this decision, saying that transgender individuals were not consulted before the ban was put in place. The activists shared their personal experiences with the Pope, who listened empathetically and expressed a desire to focus on the well-being of individuals. While Francis has been praised for his more welcoming approach towards the LGBTQ community, he has also faced backlash for using derogatory language towards them earlier in the year, prompting an apology from the Vatican. The meeting was organized by New Ways Ministry, an advocacy group for LGBTQ Catholics, and was seen as a positive step towards greater inclusion and understanding within the Church. Sister Jeannine Gramick, the group’s co-founder, emphasized the importance of listening to the experiences of transgender people and noted that the Church is slowly evolving to embrace more modern perspectives on LGBTQ issues. Despite facing criticism in the past for her work with LGBTQ individuals, Gramick has developed a relationship with Francis and believes that the Church is making progress in becoming more accepting and inclusive. The Vatican did not immediately comment on the meeting.
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Pope called upon to reconsider church prohibition on gender-affirming treatment at LGBTQ gathering
