Opinion | Why the Next Pope Matters to LGBTQI+ People — Not Just Catholics

As the world awaits the election of a new pope, Brian Sibeko-Ngidi, Director of Uthingo Network, challenges the idea that only Catholics should care about who leads the Church, and explains why the next pope’s stance on inclusion and equality matters to us all.

Since the passing of Pope Francis, I have come across social media posts, mostly from devout Roman Catholics, arguing that non-Catholics have no business commenting on who becomes the next Pope.

“It’s an internal Church matter,” they insist. Others go further, claiming the papal Conclave is purely spiritual, not political. These arguments are not only shortsighted—they are also dangerously naive.

The truth is the selection of a new Pope is never just an internal Church affair. It is a global event with far-reaching political, social, and cultural consequences, especially in regions like Africa, where the Catholic Church wields enormous influence.

What the next Pope believes—particularly on issues like LGBTQI+ rights and gender equality—will ripple far beyond the Vatican, shaping public opinion, influencing laws, and, in some cases, putting lives at risk.

In many African countries, Catholic leaders are not just spiritual guides but moral authorities with powerful platforms. Their words carry weight in parliaments and policy debates.

When a Pope expresses even a subtle anti-LGBTQI+ sentiment, or remains silent while Church leaders promote hate, their silence sends a dangerous message suggesting that exclusion, moral condemnation, and legal persecution are acceptable under the banner of faith.

We have already seen this play out in countries like Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana, where Catholic leaders have backed or condoned harsh anti-LGBTQI+ laws. These leaders often justify their positions by referencing Catholic doctrine. When the Vatican fails to challenge this narrative, it offers theological cover for violence and discrimination.

This is more than a theoretical concern. It is a lived reality for LGBTQI+ people in these regions—many of whom are targeted not just by bigots but by governments emboldened by religious rhetoric. And unlike elected politicians, who can be voted out, bishops and priests carry a spiritual legitimacy that cannot be easily contested. Their influence often lasts a lifetime, and so does the damage.

Even Pope Francis, often seen as progressive, has acknowledged the political dimensions of Church leadership. His remarks about African bishops rejecting same-sex blessings as “a special case” rooted in cultural contexts are a reminder of how deeply local values can shape global Church responses. And, in turn, how those responses shape public attitudes and national laws.

Let us be clear: the papal Conclave may not resemble a parliamentary election, but it is deeply political. Cardinals come from diverse cultural, theological, and ideological backgrounds. When they gather to choose a new Pope, they are not just selecting a spiritual figurehead but determining the moral direction of one of the world’s most powerful religious institutions. That direction matters to all of us.

A progressive Pope who embraces inclusion and human dignity could help shift attitudes, challenge harmful laws, and offer hope to millions of LGBTQI+ people. But a conservative Pope risks emboldening anti-rights movements around the world, reinforcing stigma, and enabling state-sponsored persecution.

So, to deny the political nature of the Conclave is to ignore the human dynamics at play in one of the most consequential decisions on Earth. Yes, the Conclave is sacred but it is also deeply political because human beings are involved, and wherever people are making decisions, politics is in the room, too.

The election of the new Pope is not just a Catholic issue. It is a human rights issue. The next Pope’s views are not confined to Vatican City. People will feel their effect in classrooms, courtrooms, clinics, and homes worldwide.

In the face of injustice, silence is never neutral. And neither is the selection of a Pope.

 

Brian Sibeko-Ngidi is Director of Uthingo Network in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa