Pope Francis is lying in state at St Peters in the Vatican starting today. Hotspots Happening Out has a group from the non profit Travel Club at the Vatican as we broadcast tonight. They will visit The Vatican today. But Wilton Manors and Queer News Tonight have previous connections with Pope Francis. In 2022 the Travel Club hosted 60 guests from Fort Lauderdale’s Sunshine Cathedral on a two week visit to Italy.
The trip included me. Queer News Tonights Al Ferguson attended a special Papal service in St Peters Square. The event was spurred by the special request of the Vatican to host the LGBTQ group from Wilton Manors. Al had special front row seating for the Mass in the square and then into St Peter’s Cathedral for a special prayer lead by Pope Francis. The Vatican hosted The Travel Club and Sunshine Cathedral for a special service including communion in the Vatican catacombs.
The special service led by Sunshine Bishops and pastors Durrel Watkins, Robert Griffin, Anne Atwell and Kevin Tisdol was held deep underground in the Vatican catacombs. It was the first ever LGBTQ Eurcharist ever approved by The Vatican. It was an incredible special moment for the intersections of Pope Francis, The Vatican and the LGBTQ community of South Florida. Funeral services will be Saturday starting at 4 am Eastern and then the centuries old Conclave will begin.
Vatican experts predict these next days will be incredibly important to the American and the world LGBTQ community. The Vatican Conclave will likely focus on Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino cardinal, who is considered a liberal candidate for the papacy. He’s been dubbed the “Asian Francis” for his left-leaning views and is known for his social justice message, particularly his support for marginalized groups including LGBTQ. He would be the first Pope from Asia.
There are two Italian cardinals that are considered moderates in contention. But disturbing, Another leading contender is Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary who is a prominent and widely discussed conservative candidate for the papacy. He is very conservative on family maters, immigration and is a close personal friend of very anti Hungarian President Victor Orban. Hungarian has just banned any public LGBTQ events in the nation and was supported by Arch-bishop Erdo. The events of 2022 for the South Florida LGBTQ community visit to Rome and approved by The Vatican were truly historic. And we remember the incredible legacy for the LGBTQ community from Pope Francis.
