Vatican Hosts First LGBTQ Journey of Faith

In a historic first for the Vatican, more than a thousand LGBTQ Catholics and their supporters are holding a pilgrimage this weekend, marking what participants describe as a powerful sign of diversity within the Catholic Church.

The gathering comprising about 1,400 pilgrims from 20 countries was organized by La Tenda di Gionata (The Tent of Jonathan), an Italian association advocating for greater inclusivity among the faithful. It is part of the Church’s Jubilee Holy Year celebrations, making it the first time such a pilgrimage has been included in the official Jubilee programme.

Although LGBTQ groups have previously visited the Vatican, this is the first organized pilgrimage of its kind to receive official recognition.

Yveline Behets, a 68-year-old transgender woman from Brussels, journeyed 130 kilometres (80 miles) along the ancient Via Francigena route with about 30 other LGBTQ pilgrims to reach Rome. She expressed hope for greater openness within the Church:

“One should not misuse the word ‘welcome’. We are not just outsiders who are sometimes welcomed—we are part of the same family.”

Wearing a rainbow T-shirt, Behets said she often felt unacknowledged by fellow Catholics but believed the pilgrimage signaled a step toward change.

Hugo, a 35-year-old pilgrim from Quebec, Canada, echoed that sentiment:

“This pilgrimage is a really important signal for us to feel more included.

On Saturday, participants were scheduled to walk the main road to the Vatican and pass through the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, a ritual performed by millions of pilgrims worldwide during Jubilee years.

Earlier, hundreds attended a Mass at the Church of the Gesù in central Rome, while the previous evening was marked by a prayer vigil.

While the group was not granted a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, the inclusion of their pilgrimage in the Jubilee programme is seen by many as a symbolic milestone in the Church’s evolving relationship with LGBTQ Catholics.