REPORT: Pope asked about LGBTQ inclusion in Catholic Church. Here’s what he said

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FROM WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Pope Leo XIV took a step to show that he would continue Pope Francis’s policy of welcoming the LGBTQ community to the Catholic Church.

The pontiff met on Monday with Rev. James Martin, a priest known for his LGBTQ advocacy, according to the Associated Press. Martin is also known for his book, Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Can Enter Into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion and Sensitivity. In it, Martin suggested that Catholics foster a relationship with the LGBTQ community instead of identifying them as “the other” and welcome them to the Catholic community.

Martin expressed optimism after meeting with Pope Leo XIV and was pleased that he was interested in continuing Pope Francis’s outreach efforts with LGBTQ people.

“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,” Martin, who met with the Pope for about 30 minutes, told the Associated Press.

“It was wonderful,” he said of the meeting. “It was very consoling and very encouraging and frankly a lot of fun.”

In an X post, Martin wrote, “Dear friends: I was profoundly grateful for my audience at the Apostolic Palace with the Holy Father @Pontifex this morning. The message I received was that Pope Leo will be continuing with the same openness and that Francis showed to LGBTQ Catholics. I found Leo to be joyful, relaxed and serene. He is a joy to be with!”

Martin was named a Vatican adviser during Pope Francis’s papacy.

READ MORE AT WashingtonExaminer.

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