Where Does Pope Leo XIV Stand on LGBTQ+ Issues? Here's What We Know

Now that he's pope, group crossed nan globe are wondering wherever Pope Leo XIV stands connected a number of important topics, including LGBTQ+ issues.

A friend and mentee of nan American pontiff, Rev. Michele Falcone, told The New York Times that nan caller pope — who was elected connected Thursday, May 8 — represents a “dignified mediate of nan road,” helping breach nan spread betwixt much progressive and blimpish ideologies that person played retired successful nan Church for years.

The caller pope is seen arsenic being akin to Pope Francis successful his dedication to nan mediocre and his expertise to link pinch group of a wide scope of backgrounds. Born successful nan United States, nan caller pope spent 20 years successful Peru and served arsenic nan Archbishop of Chiclayo. He was besides Prefect of nan Dicastery for Bishops successful which domiciled he advised Francis connected bishop appointments crossed nan globe. 

In his first reside arsenic nan caller caput of nan Church, nan pontiff talked astir unity.

“Together, we must effort to find retired really to beryllium a missionary church, a religion that builds bridges, establishes dialogues,” he said from nan pavilion successful nan Vatican City, emphasizing nan request “to beryllium capable to person everybody that needs our charity, our presence, speech and love.”

His past comments connected nan LGBTQ+ community, however, person not ever been arsenic welcoming.

In 2012, he said he was pained that Western media and nine created “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are astatine likelihood pinch nan gospel," nan Times reported, specifically referencing nan “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.”

In Chiclayo, he besides pushed backmost connected a scheme by nan Peruvian authorities to thatch astir gender successful schools, nan newspaper reported. “The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,” he told a section outlet, according to nan Times.

It remains unclear if his views person changed complete nan years.

Francis, his predecessor, was mostly seen arsenic being much progressive and successful truth amazed nan world erstwhile he asked, “Who americium I to judge?” aft being asked a mobility astir cheery group successful 2013.

A decade later, Francis announced that blessings should beryllium extended to LGBTQ+ couples, though it did not alteration nan church's sentiment connected marriage, according to nan New York Times. The Vatican besides cleared nan measurement for priests to baptize transgender people, arsenic agelong arsenic it doesn’t consequence successful "public ungraded aliases disorder among nan faithful,” nan AP reported.

Despite these oversea changes, Francis received his ain stock of disapproval for anti-LGBTQ+ remarks he made and for approving a archive released by nan Vatican successful April 2024 that modulation room and gender fluidity straight opposed quality dignity, according to nan Times.

While Leo’s views connected definite topics are still somewhat unknown, his belief successful emotion for others is astatine nan fore.

In February, he posted 2 news articles connected X that denounced Vice President JD Vance. One of them, which was titled, "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't inquire america to rank our emotion for others," refuted Vance's proclamation connected Fox News astir Christian priorities. The other delved deeper into nan precocious Pope Francis' disapproval of Vance utilizing nan Catholic conception of "ordo amoris" to warrant nan Trump administration's migration policies. 

Father James Martin, who knows nan caller pope, wrote astir nan caller pontiff’s lukewarm traits connected X aft nan election.

“I cognize Pope Leo XIV to beryllium a kind, open, humble, modest, decisive, hard-working, straightforward, trustworthy, and down-to-earth man,” Martin wrote. “A superb choice. May God bless him.”

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In a connection shared pinch PEOPLE aft nan pope's election, Sarah Kate Ellis, nan president and CEO of GLAAD, shared that nan LGBTQ+ media defense statement is hoping to activity pinch nan caller pope, arsenic they had pinch Francis.

“The Roman Catholic Church stands connected nan period of a hopeful and inclusive caller chapter,” she said. “With Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, location is an bonzer opportunity to animate billions astir nan world and further clasp LGBTQ group pinch compassion, dignity, and love.”

She added that nan pope “can build connected nan advancement already made and thief create a Church that genuinely reflects nan cosmopolitan connection of acceptance and attraction for all.”