In a landmark meeting on 1 September 2025, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with Father James Martin, the American Jesuit priest, writer, and prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church.
The meeting, which lasted 30 minutes in the Apostolic Palace, is the first significant indicator of the new pope’s approach to LGBTQ+ issues since his election in May following the death of Pope Francis.
While the Catholic Church still describes homosexual acts as “acts of grave depravity,” “intrinsically disordered,” and “contrary to natural law,” Francis promoted a more compassionate and less judgemental approach.
The timing of Martin’s meeting with Pope Leo was especially notable: the encounter came just days before a planned Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican.
A Warm Encounter with the New Pope
Writing on his Outreach platform, Father Martin described Pope Leo as “warm, relaxed and serene (and funny),” adding that he was “tremendously at ease, even jovial” throughout their discussion.
Martin noted the ease of speaking with a pope fluent in English. Unlike his meetings with Pope Francis, which required translation, this conversation allowed for deeper and more natural dialogue.
But the heart of the meeting was Pope Leo’s stance on LGBTQ+ Catholics. “The message I received from him, loud and clear, was that he wanted to continue with the same approach that Pope Francis had advanced, which was one of openness and welcome. So, it was very much a hopeful message of continuity,” Martin wrote.
He explained that Pope Leo tied this approach to synodality—the idea that the church must listen to people from all walks of life, including LGBTQ+ people, to grow into a more open and inclusive community.
LGBTQ+ Issues on the Papal Radar
While Martin stressed that the new pope faces urgent global challenges such as conflict in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar, he left the meeting convinced that LGBTQ+ issues remain firmly “on his radar.”
“I get the overall sense that he ‘gets it’ and that he is ready to continue Francis’s legacy of openness, and that is surely good news,” said Martin.
“Overall, though, I hope that hearing about his desire to continue Pope Francis’s legacy of openness will itself be a blessing to all LGBTQ Catholics and to their families and friends,” Martin said.
A Significant First Step
LGBTQ+ Catholic advocacy group New Ways Ministry welcomed the meeting. Executive Director Francis DeBernardo described it as “heartening” and a “strong indication” that Pope Leo intends to build on Pope Francis’s model of welcome.
“Even more reassuring is hearing Fr. Martin’s summary of the meeting: ‘I heard the same message from Pope Leo that I heard from Pope Francis, which is the desire to welcome all people, including LGBTQ people,’” said DeBernardo.
While calling the meeting “a significant event and a great first step,” DeBernardo stressed that the real test will be whether Pope Leo continues to learn from LGBTQ+ people and takes “concrete steps to educate the rest of the church to be more welcoming and just to them.”
