The Vatican is organizing an inaugural pilgrimage for LGBTQ+ Chrisitians along with their relatives and allies. The pilgrimage will occur during the Vatican’s 2025 celebration of Jubilee, a Holy Year that only occurs every 25 years, according to LGBTQ+ Nation.
The pilgrimage, which is being referred to as “Church: Home for All, LGBT+ Christians and Other Existential Frontiers,” will take place on Sept. 6 of 2025. The journey will include a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, a prayer vigil for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families held in the city’s Il Gesù church, and a celebratory mass overseen by Bishop Francesco Savino, Vice President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Leading the journey will be Tenda di Gionata, an Italian gay rights group.
Every 25 years, Jubilee sees millions of pilgrims visiting Rome to reconnect with their faith. The first Jubilee in Catholic history was in 1300, proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII. The 2025 iteration of the religious celebration will be the most inclusive yet. The idea was hatched by the Bolognese Jesuit, Father Pino Piva, who has been caring for LGBTQ+ Christians in recent years, according to Il Mesaggero.
During his papal term, Pope Francis has been making strides toward greater LGBTQ+ tolerance and acceptance in the Catholic church with various changes being made over the past year to attain a more “pastoral” approach. Late last year, Pope Francis approved the blessings of same-sex marriage across the Roman Catholic global denomination.
A rush of backlash from conservative parishes around the world followed the decision. Despite this, Pope Francis maintains that he made the right choice, and “warned those who disagree with it that their ‘hypocrisy’ is showing,” according to Pink News.
Pope Francis has since spoken out against Uganda’s draconian “Kill the Gays” law, donated money to transgender sex workers, and told U.S. bishops to stop their anti-gay attacks, among other motions to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
