Historic First: Vatican Hosts LGBTQ+ Pilgrimage During Holy Year

Vatican City – In what is being hailed as a watershed moment, more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ Catholics and their families made history this week as they participated in the first-ever LGBTQ+ pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica during the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations.

The pilgrims, representing groups from Italy, the United States, Brazil and other countries, walked through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s—a powerful Jubilee tradition symbolizing forgiveness and renewal.

Organized by the Italian association La Tenda di Gionata (Jonathan’s Tent), with support from international networks like DignityUSA and Outreach, the event drew worldwide attention and signaled a major step toward inclusion in the Catholic Church.

Mixed but Historic Reception

The pilgrimage was officially listed on the Vatican’s Holy Year event calendar, though Church leaders were careful to stress it was a logistical inclusion, not a doctrinal endorsement.

Still, the symbolism was not lost on participants. One pilgrim described the moment as “a day of great celebration and hope,” pointing out that just 25 years ago, LGBTQ Catholics had been detained for attempting to join Jubilee celebrations.

Silence from the Top

Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded Pope Francis earlier this year, held a general Jubilee audience the same weekend. While he did not specifically mention the LGBTQ group, he recently met privately with Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin, a longtime advocate for LGBTQ Catholics, reaffirming a message of welcome and openness.

Global Reactions

For many, the pilgrimage underscored how far the Church has shifted from marginalization to cautious recognition. “Our faith and our identity no longer need to be hidden,” said one participant, adding that the experience was both spiritual and emotional.

The event was celebrated across LGBTQ+ Catholic communities as a turning point—not an end to struggles, but a new chapter in the fight for inclusion.