Rome, Italy August 29, 2025 (Agencies) — In a historic gesture of inclusion, the Vatican is set to host a series of events organized by LGBTQ Catholic groups as part of the 2025 Roman Catholic Jubilee. Organizers expect over 1,000 participants from around 30 countries to take part in a three-day pilgrimage to Rome beginning September 5.
The pilgrimage, coordinated by the Italian LGBTQ advocacy group La Tenda di Gionata (“Jonathan’s Tent”), will commence with a multilingual prayer vigil near the Church of the Gesù, followed by a Mass presided over by Bishop Francesco Savino, Vice President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Participants will then process through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica—a traditional rite during Jubilee Years—and conclude with the Angelus prayer led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square on September 7.
“Inclusive welcome is… a posture of the heart and gaze. It is the very breath of the Gospel,” Bishop Savino stated, underscoring the Church’s evolving approach to pastoral outreach.
The Jubilee, declared every 25 years by the Pope, is a time of spiritual renewal and pilgrimage. The current Holy Year began on December 24, 2024, and will continue through January 6, 2026. The LGBTQ pilgrimage was officially listed on the Vatican’s Jubilee calendar in December 2024, under the leadership of the late Pope Francis, who had initiated several inclusive reforms within the Church.
While Pope Leo XIV has expressed doctrinal reservations regarding LGBTQ reforms—reaffirming that marriage is “between a man and a woman”—he has maintained Francis’ directive allowing blessings for same-sex couples. A Vatican official clarified that listing the LGBTQ pilgrimage on the Jubilee calendar does not imply institutional endorsement of the group’s activities.
The event marks a significant moment in the Catholic Church’s engagement with LGBTQ faithful, reflecting broader debates within global Christianity about inclusion, tradition, and spiritual belonging.