Pope Francis met with LGBTQ activists at the Vatican in a private 80-minute meeting to discuss the Catholic Church’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. The meeting included a transgender man, a Catholic sister who works with LGBTQ people, and a medical doctor who provides gender-affirming care. The Vatican did not list the meeting on the official agenda, and it comes after the Vatican’s doctrinal office rejected gender-affirming care, stating that it threatens a person’s unique dignity. LGBTQ groups criticized the Vatican’s decision, stating that transgender individuals were not consulted before the ban was implemented.
During the meeting, the activists emphasized the importance of including transgender voices in policy-making, and they shared their experiences with Pope Francis. The pope was described as receptive and empathetic, expressing a focus on the well-being of individuals. Despite leading the Catholic Church into a more welcoming approach towards the LGBTQ community, Francis has previously used derogatory language towards LGBTQ individuals, for which the Vatican apologized.
The meeting was organized by New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based advocacy group for LGBTQ Catholics, and was intended to highlight the need to listen to the experiences of transgender individuals. Sister Jeannine Gramick, the group’s co-founder, asked Francis for the meeting, emphasizing the importance of the church evolving with modern perspectives. This meeting signifies a shift towards inclusivity within the Catholic Church, as they aim to engage with and support the LGBTQ community.
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