Pope Francis held a 90-minute meeting on October 12 with members of New Ways Ministry, a US Catholic LGBTQ+ advocacy group, at his residence in the Vatican.
The group included transgender and intersex Catholics, allies and a doctor who provides gender transition care.
During the meeting, participants shared personal stories about the challenges faced by transgender and intersex Catholics. They also urged the pope to encourage church leaders to be more accepting of LGBTQ+ people. Pope Francis reportedly listened attentively and asked questions, showing empathy toward their experiences.
Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, arranged the meeting after reading the Vatican document on gender ideology, “Dignitas Infinita”. She wrote afterwards: “I am grateful to Pope Francis that he was willing to listen.”
New Ways Ministry has previously faced criticism from the Vatican, including a notification in 1999 and a statement from U.S. bishops in 2011.
Despite this, Pope Francis praised Sister Gramick in a handwritten letter, and met with her and other group leaders in 2023.
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