Pope Francis, upon his passing, leaves behind a legacy marked by attempts to foster greater inclusivity within the Catholic Church for transgender individuals and members of the LGBTQ+ community. While these efforts frequently sparked debate amongst more traditional factions, he consistently voiced concerns regarding what he termed “dangerous” gender ideology.
Despite upholding established Catholic doctrines concerning gender identity and sexuality in formal pronouncements, Francis’s actions often presented a nuanced—and at times ambiguous—picture of his stance.
“Being homosexual isn’t a crime,”
he declared to the Associated Press in 2023, marking the first time a pope had publicly addressed the legality of same-sex relationships globally and earning widespread praise from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Francis also condemned the criminalization of homosexuality as “unjust,” pointing out that some Catholic bishops in various nations might support such laws for cultural motivations. He urged these leaders towards a path of understanding, stating:
“These bishops have to have a process of conversion. Tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us.”
Furthermore, 2023 saw the release of *Fiducia Supplicans*, a Vatican document offering guidelines from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) concerning blessings for same-sex couples. The guidance stipulated that such blessings should be offered to individuals rather than as recognition of the union itself.
The document clarified:
- “One should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation.”
- “At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing.”
Pope Francis expressed significant reservations concerning gender ideology, referring to it as “one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations” during an interview with Argentinian newspaper *La Nación* in March 2023. He articulated his view on human diversity and its importance:
“All humanity is the tension of differences. It is to grow through the tension of differences. The question of gender is diluting the differences and making the world the same, all dull, all alike, and that is contrary to the human vocation.”
He attributed the rising acceptance of gender fluidity to well-intentioned individuals who he believed failed to differentiate between respect for sexual diversity and a potentially harmful “anthropology of gender.” He warned this approach risks erasing humanity’s richness—its personal, cultural, and social diversities and inherent tensions.
In a notable gesture, Francis hosted a luncheon at the Vatican for transgender women – many of whom were sex workers or migrants from Latin America – as part of the Catholic Church’s “World Day of the Poor” celebrations in March 2023. The Pope had previously provided support to these women during the COVID-19 pandemic when they faced unemployment, establishing a relationship marked by monthly visits and ongoing assistance with necessities like medicine and supplies.
Pope Francis cautioned against reducing the Church to simply another “progressive” or “conservative” political entity, emphasizing its distinct spiritual purpose.
