For the first time in Catholic Church history, out LGBTQ pilgrims have taken part in an official Vatican Jubilee event. More than 1,300 LGBTQ+ people and their families crossed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. They carried a rainbow crucifix and wore shirts marked with rainbow hearts, signaling a milestone moment of visibility and acceptance. The event marked the first time a queer pilgrimage has been included in the Church’s official Jubilee calendar.
During mass, Monsignor Francesco Savino, Bishop of Cassano all’Jonio and vice president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, addressed the gathering. He said, “It is necessary to get rid of prejudices… No one must feel excluded. I insist, no one should feel excluded.” The Jubilee, celebrated every 25 years, is a season of pardon and renewal. Pilgrims who travel to Rome pass through the basilica doors opened only during these years. This walk through the Holy Door symbolized reconciliation and transformation — now, for the first time, including LGBTQ+ faithful. The pilgrimage was organized by La Tenda di Gionata, an Italian association for LGBTQ+ Christians and their families.
When their event was first placed on the Jubilee calendar, organizers called it “a unique opportunity to stand united and bear witness to the beauty of a Church that embraces everyone without exclusion.” Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, told the National Catholic Reporter, “Not only are LGBTQ people marching and walking to say that they’re part of the Church, but official Church institutions are welcoming them and helping them to tell their stories.” For LGBTQ+ Catholics worldwide, this pilgrimage signals a door not only opened in Rome, but also in faith communities around the globe.
