The future of the Catholic Church—and its approach to queer communities—may be decided this week, as 133 cardinals gather at the Vatican to begin the sacred process of selecting a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in the conclave, meaning just over 100 will have the power to elect the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. A two-thirds majority is required.
Among the top contenders are ten names stirring both hope and concern in LGBTQ circles. From Italy, Cardinal Pietro Parolin—currently the Vatican’s secretary of state—is seen as a conservative choice. He met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance just before Pope Francis’s death. From the Philippines, Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, often called the “Asian Francis,” has criticized the Church’s “harsh” stance on gay people and unwed mothers. He could become the first modern-day Asian pope.
Also from the Philippines, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David supports civil unions for same-sex couples and champions social justice. Africa has two top candidates: Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who opposes same-sex blessings, and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana, seen as somewhat more LGBTQ-friendly.
From Italy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has a record of LGBTQ outreach and even wrote the foreword to Building a Bridge by Father James Martin. Representing the U.S., Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark has held special Masses for LGBTQ Catholics and signed a 2021 statement supporting queer youth.
But also in the mix are two American hardliners: Cardinal Raymond Burke and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, both known for their staunch opposition to queer rights. Finally, from Japan, Cardinal Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi has expressed support for LGBTQ inclusion, contributing to a book edited by a gay Christian minister. Whether the conclave continues Francis’s legacy of cautious inclusion—or shifts the Church sharply away—LGBTQ Catholics around the world are watching closely.
This conclave has incredibly important implications on the LGBTQ community. Catholics are the largest religion in the world with nearly 1 in every 4 people on earth identifying as Catholic. The Pope has a dramatic effect on political and public perception on a wide variety of LGBTQ issues… including even existence. Who do you hope the conclave will choose?
