by Joe Siegel

LGBTQ media coverage of Pope Leo XIV has been mainly favorable, although some of his past statements have raised some red flags among activists. Leo, a Chicago native previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American as well as the first Peruvian pope.

New York’s Gay City News (GCN) reported on May 8: “According to the New York Times, Pope Leo XIV criticized the West in 2012 for fostering ‘sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,’ citing the “homosexual lifestyle” and ‘alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.’ It is unclear whether the new pope’s views have changed since then.”

Many media outlets reported on the written statement from Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the LGBTQ Catholic group New Ways Ministry. “We pray that, in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, his 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. We pray that as our church transitions from 12 years of an historic papacy, Pope Leo XIV will continue the welcome and outreach to LGBTQ+ people which Pope Francis inaugurated. The healing that began with ‘Who am I to judge?’ needs to continue and grow to ‘Who am I, if not a friend to LGBTQ+ people?’”

The Advocate wrote: “LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD said it looked forward to working with Leo. The group had previously met with Francis to discuss LGBTQ+ rights.”

“The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter. With Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love,” GLAAD’s CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement provided to The Advocate. “He can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all. We are hopeful to collaborate with Pope Leo, just as we did with Pope Francis, to help ensure the Church continues to grow as a welcoming home for everyone.”

The Windy City Times (WCT), based in Leo’s hometown of Chicago, reported on May 9: “In his inaugural address, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his commitment to continue the apostolate of mercy and the synodal process of dialogue across the global Church initiated by his predecessor Pope Francis. He especially emphasized the duty of the Church ‘to receive everyone through love and dialogue … meeting people where they are as we all walk the road of mercy toward the place God has made for us.’”

WCT further reported, “In a May 8 statement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the appointment ‘one of the biggest moments in the modern history of our city. Pope Leo XIV will be a champion for workers all over the world. It’s only right that he was born and educated in the most pro-worker city in America. The Catholic Church has a strong tradition of standing up for the poor and the vulnerable, and I know that Pope Leo XIV will continue that tradition. This is a tremendous moment for our Catholic community and for all Chicagoans.’”

The Bay Area Reporter reported that reaction from LGBTQ Catholics to the new pope has initially been positive, despite Leo’s comments from 2012. “Leo has not said much on the matter [of LGBTQ+ Catholics] since Francis became pope in 2013. Francis did not change long-standing Catholic teaching that sex between people of the same sex is gravely sinful, but he did alter the church’s approach to LGBTQ people, famously saying, ‘If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?’”

GCN in New York published a piece by veteran journalist Michael Luongo on May 19 entitled, “Thoughts on popes, old and new — and their surprises on LGBTQ issues.” In it, he recounts his travels to Buenos Aires when Francis — then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio — was chosen as pope in 2013 as well as to Rome. According to Luongo, “The dialogue Pope Francis created, even among Catholic conservatives, was transformative.” As for Pope Leo XIV and his past seemingly anti-LGBTQ comments? “There is hope that Pope Leo XIV will, as he said, lead ‘a church which builds bridges with dialogue.’”

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Volume 27
Issue 4