Pope Francis’ Legacy: A Shift in the Catholic Church’s Approach to LGBTQ Issues
Pope Francis, with his simple declaration, "Who am I to judge?" signaled a significant departure from his predecessors, particularly in the realm of LGBTQ issues. This statement, made in 2013 during a press conference on his return from Brazil, resonated deeply within the LGBTQ community and among advocates for inclusivity within the Catholic Church. When questioned about gay priests, Pope Francis responded, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? We shouldn’t marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society."
As the 88-year-old pontiff undergoes treatment for pneumonia and other health challenges at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, many within the LGBTQ community reflect on his papacy and its impact on the Catholic Church’s approach to LGBTQ individuals. The overwhelming consensus is that Pope Francis has initiated a transformation, shifting the Vatican’s attitude from indifference and condemnation to one of greater tolerance and even welcome.
Father Bryan Massingale, a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee and a theology professor at Fordham University, believes that Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential popes in Catholic history. His impact lies not only in concrete policy changes but also in fostering a more open and accepting atmosphere within the Church.
Despite the Pope’s progressive stance, official church doctrine on same-sex marriage remains unchanged. There is still no formal recognition of same-sex unions within the Roman Catholic Church. However, Pope Francis has navigated change through his words and actions, creating space for dialogue and discussion of LGBTQ issues, a stark contrast to previous popes who often ostracized or punished bishops for addressing these topics or ministering to the community.
Michele Dillon, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire, notes that the Pope’s statements affirming the moral validity and spiritual grace within gay relationships, even without sacramental recognition, have had a profound impact on individuals’ lives. It has empowered many within the LGBTQ community and provided a sense of validation that was previously absent.
Father Massingale, who identifies as gay, vividly remembers hearing Pope Francis’ initial comments. He confessed that he never imagined he would hear a Catholic pope speak so warmly and positively about the LGBTQ community. This marked a turning point for him and for many others who had felt excluded or marginalized by the Church.
In the years since, Pope Francis has engaged in unprecedented outreach to the LGBTQ community. He has advocated for the global decriminalization of same-sex relationships, allowed priests to bless same-sex unions (while maintaining the distinction from marriage), and extended invitations to members of the transgender community to participate in Vatican events.
Catherine O’Donnell, a history professor at Arizona State University, highlights the significance of Pope Francis welcoming transgender people to Masses, allowing them to be godparents, and supporting civil unions. These actions, along with the approval of blessings for gay couples as long as they do not resemble marriage ceremonies, have resonated deeply within the LGBTQ community and signaled a shift in the Church’s attitude.
Francis DeBernardo, the executive director of New Ways Ministry, an organization advocating for LGBTQ acceptance and equity within the Catholic Church, shares a personal experience of meeting with the Pope as part of a delegation that included transgender and intersex individuals. He describes the Pope as engaged and supportive during the meeting.
DeBernardo’s organization conducts educational programs and consultations with Catholic parishes and schools to promote LGBTQ outreach. He emphasizes that their work has been busier than ever during Pope Francis’ papacy, with individuals who were previously hesitant to even mention LGBTQ issues now openly engaging in ministry with the community.
The meeting between Pope Francis and New Ways Ministry represents a remarkable reversal of a situation from 1999 when the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), barred the organization’s founders from conducting pastoral outreach to gay people.
DeBernardo emphasizes that Pope Francis has strived to create a listening church, one that is inclusive of all people, rather than excluding those who are different.
However, Pope Francis’ approach to LGBTQ issues has not been universally embraced. Traditionalist bishops, particularly in Asia and Africa, believe he has been too progressive, while some LGBTQ advocates argue that he could have done more to advance equality and inclusion.
Last year, the Pope faced criticism for reportedly using a derogatory Italian term for gay men in a private meeting with Italian bishops. He later issued a public apology for his remarks.
Elizabeth Sweeny Block, an associate professor of Christian ethics at St. Louis University, acknowledges the Pope’s efforts to model inclusivity by meeting with members of the transgender community. However, she points out that he has repeatedly condemned "gender ideology," a term she considers problematic and ill-defined. She believes that the Church can only go so far in its acceptance of LGBTQ issues.
Block argues that while Pope Francis has integrated more scientific understanding into his papacy, particularly in areas like environmentalism, he has not shown the same level of engagement on issues of gender. She notes that members of the LGBTQ community are understandably still waiting for more concrete changes within the Church at the local level.
Meli Barber, the president of Dignity USA, emphasizes that Pope Francis’ LGBTQ legacy is complex. While she has personally felt more welcomed in the Church during his papacy, she acknowledges that Catholic doctrine and declarations under his reign have not always reflected the same level of acceptance.
Barber points out that while Pope Francis has expressed acceptance and called for community freedom from discrimination and criminalization, he has continued to maintain that nontraditional relationships are inconsistent with God’s plan and has characterized gender transitioning as on par with significant human crises.
Despite these challenges, Dillon believes that Pope Francis has demonstrated that LGBTQ individuals can be more integrated into the Church. He has recalibrated the Church’s priorities by focusing on core tenets such as loving one’s neighbors and spreading the gospel, rather than focusing on what he sees as a denunciation of people’s private lives.
Dillon recalls the impact of Pope Francis’ initial statements on LGBTQ issues, describing it as a stark contrast to the previous declarations from the Vatican, which often emphasized the sinfulness of gay behavior.
She also emphasizes the healing that Pope Francis has brought to the wounds created by the 1986 Vatican document "On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons," which described the inclination of homosexual individuals as an "objective disorder" and a "tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil."
Dillon highlights Pope Francis’ recognition of the stability that same-sex unions can offer and argues that the allowance of blessings for these relationships acknowledges the grace that can be found within them.
DeBernardo calls Pope Francis "very courageous" for reversing the Church’s harsh stance on LGBTQ issues. However, he acknowledges that pockets of the Church, even in the United States, remain unwelcoming to LGBTQ individuals.
He notes that there are still instances of people being excluded or hearing ignorant or negative sermons about LGBTQ individuals. However, he emphasizes that the Catholic Church is a large and complex institution and that Pope Francis deserves credit for initiating a significant shift in its direction.
Dillon agrees, highlighting the slow pace of change in Church doctrine regarding sexual morality. She draws a parallel to the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, when the Church affirmed its view that artificial contraception is sinful. Despite this, many Catholics in the West began practicing contraception in the 1970s and onward, while still considering themselves good Catholics.
Dillon argues that the silence of the Church on this issue allowed doctrine to evolve in practice. Similarly, Pope Francis’ words and actions have brought LGBTQ issues into the open, creating an environment where change is possible.
She believes that these developments are significant and enduring, regardless of who succeeds Pope Francis. Even if the next pope does not actively address these issues, the discourse has shifted, thanks to Pope Francis.
Advocates argue that Pope Francis’ legacy on LGBTQ issues is likely to endure, no matter who follows him. DeBernardo believes that it will be difficult to reverse the progress that has been made. He suggests that even if a more conservative pope is elected, the Church may not move forward as quickly, but the positive changes initiated by Pope Francis will not be completely undone.
DeBernardo emphasizes that a pope’s influence extends beyond decrees and policies and involves setting a tone within the Church. Pope Francis has created a tone of welcoming and dialogue, giving people the courage to engage in outreach to LGBTQ individuals.
Block agrees that Pope Francis has cultivated a Church that embraces dialogue and prioritizes human dignity over rigid moral rules. She believes that his pastoral approach marks the beginning of a significant shift, even if it is not yet complete.
Dillon points out that Pope Francis has appointed the majority of cardinals who will select the next pontiff, many of whom are likely aligned with his more progressive views. However, she cautions that this is not necessarily a predictor of how someone will act as pope.
She notes that Cardinal Ratzinger, before becoming Pope Benedict, was highly outspoken on sexual morality. However, as leader of the Catholic Church, he focused more on charity and environmentalism.
Dillon argues that the role of pope is different from any other position and that individuals often approach the responsibilities of the papacy with a different perspective.
Massingale believes that while every pope is different, it is unlikely that the next pope will radically change the trajectory that Pope Francis has set regarding LGBTQ issues. He emphasizes that Pope Francis has gone further than any other pope in Catholic history and has opened the door for evolution within the Church.
Massingale acknowledges that the Church is a worldwide institution and that different parts of the world will grow in their own way. He believes that Pope Francis wanted to create a path where the world could walk together, even with different paces.
