LGBTQ+ Catholics expressed concern about anti-queer remarks made more than a decade ago by Chicago-born Father Robert Prevost—the new Pope Leo XIV—in which he condemned what he called the “homosexual lifestyle” and “the redefinition of marriage” as “at odds with the Gospel,” according to The Guardian.
In 2012, talking to the world synod of bishops, the now-pontiff said that “Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel—for example, abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia.” He went on to complain that “alternative families [composed] of same-sex partners and their adopted children are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in television programs and cinema today.”
Queer Catholic groups have expressed concern and hope. LGBTQ+ Catholic organization DignityUSA wrote, in part, “We pray that the needs of those whom our church has historically marginalized, including LGBTQ+ people and their families, will continue to be heard and addressed by the Vatican and other church leaders. We express concern with the former Cardinal’s statements—as reported in the New York Times—in a 2012 address to bishops. … We note that this statement was made during the papacy of Benedict XVI, when doctrinal adherence appeared to be expected. In addition, the voices of LGBTQ people were rarely heard at that level of church leadership. We pray that Pope Leo XIV will demonstrate a willingness to listen and grow as he begins his new role as the leader of the global Church.
“We also hope that Pope Leo XIV will have the moral clarity that will enable our church to continue to confront the many critical issues facing the entire global community, as well as to address the injustices and inequities that continue to plague our church itself.”
In addition, the Maryland-based LGBTQ+ Catholic group New Ways Ministry stated, “We pray that, in the 13 years that have passed [since that speech to the bishops], 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, [Pope Leo’s[] heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues, and we will take a wait-and-see attitude to see if that has happened.
“Pope Francis opened the door to a new approach to LGBTQ+ people; Pope Leo must now guide the church through that door. Many Catholics, including bishops and other leaders, remain ignorant about the reality of LGBTQ+ lives, including the marginalization, discrimination, and violence that many still face, even in Catholic institutions. We hope that he will further educate himself by meeting with and listening to LGBTQ+ Catholics and their supporters.”
The new pontiff is the first North American to be elected pope and, before the conclave, was the U.S. cardinal most mentioned as the potential next successor of St. Peter. A longtime missionary in Peru, the 69-year-old pope holds is considered a citizen of both the U.S. and the South American country. He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German.