{"id":2481285,"date":"2025-09-02T03:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T07:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-xiv-expresses-support-for-lgbtq-inclusion-in-catholic-church\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T03:00:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T07:00:38","slug":"pope-leo-xiv-expresses-support-for-lgbtq-inclusion-in-catholic-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-xiv-expresses-support-for-lgbtq-inclusion-in-catholic-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV expresses support for LGBTQ inclusion in Catholic Church"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpope-leo-xiv-expresses-support-for-lgbtq-inclusion-in-catholic-church%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2481285&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that Pope leo XIV has expressed support for continuing Pope Francis&#8217;s inclusive approach toward the LGBTQ community within the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV recently met with Rev. James Martin, a prominent LGBTQ advocate and author of *Building a Bridge*, a book encouraging respect, compassion, and sensitivity between the Church and LGBTQ individuals. Martin conveyed optimism after their meeting, noting that Pope Leo reaffirmed a welcoming stance toward LGBTQ peopel. This marks a importent shift for Pope Leo XIV, who, earlier in his career as Cardinal Robert Prevost, had been critical of the &#8220;homosexual lifestyle.&#8221; However, his views evolved after becoming a cardinal in 2023, aligning with Pope Francis&#8217;s doctrine that, while Church doctrine remains unchanged, all people-including LGBTQ individuals-should be welcomed in the Church without exclusion based on lifestyle choices. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Pope Leo XIV expresses support for LGBTQ inclusion in Catholic Church<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2215764\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-leo-xiv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pope Leo XIV<\/a> took a step to show that he would continue Pope Francis&rsquo;s policy of welcoming the LGBTQ community to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/catholic-church\/\">Catholic<\/a> Church.<\/p>\n<p>The pontiff <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pope-leo-james-martin-lgbtq-holy-year-f54bbf057757bdb7230802a8d5d77242\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">met<\/a> on Monday with Rev. James Martin, a priest known for his LGBTQ advocacy, according to the <em>Associated Press<\/em>. Martin is also known for his book, <em>Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Can Enter Into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion and Sensitivity. <\/em>In it, Martin <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cathedralbookstore.org\/building-a-bridge-how-the-catholic-church-and-the.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suggested<\/a> that Catholics foster a relationship with the LGBTQ community instead of identifying them as &ldquo;the other&rdquo; and welcome them to the Catholic community.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3789311\/belgium-recognize-palestinian-state-under-conditions\/\">Belgium to recognize a Palestinian state if certain conditions are met<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3789275\/massie-khanna-joint-press-conference-epstein-victims\/\">Massie and Khanna to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-biden-and-justin-trudeau-hold-joint-press-conference\/\" title=\"WATCH LIVE: Biden and Justin Trudeau hold joint press conference\">hold joint press conference<\/a> with Epstein victims<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3789296\/jerry-nadler-not-running-reelection\/\">Jerry Nadler says he will not run for reelection<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Martin expressed optimism after meeting with Pope Leo XIV and was pleased that he was interested in continuing Pope Francis&rsquo;s outreach efforts with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lgbt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LGBTQ<\/a> people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Martin told the <em>Associated Press<\/em>. &ldquo;It was wonderful. It was very consoling and very encouraging and frankly a lot of fun.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Martin was named a Vatican adviser during Pope Francis&rsquo;s papacy and met with him multiple times, according to the <em>Associated Press<\/em>. He reportedly met with the pope for approximately 30 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting with Martin and the subsequent decision to follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-francis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pope Francis<\/a>&rsquo;s policy of welcoming LGBTQ members marked a pivotal moment for Pope Leo XIV. Previously, while recognized in the Catholic Church as Rev. Robert Prevost, he was critical of the &ldquo;homosexual lifestyle&rdquo; in comments from 2012, the <em>Associated Press<\/em> reported. Prevost also condemned popular culture, societal, and media efforts that went against Catholicism and promoted the acceptance of homosexual relationships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, his <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >opinions reportedly evolved<\/a> when he became a cardinal in 2023, echoing Francis&rsquo;s doctrine regarding LGBTQ people in the Catholic Church. He supported the pope&rsquo;s policy of not excluding people and admitted that Francis had influenced his views.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3788680\/pope-leo-pandemic-of-arms-prayer-minneapolis-shooting-victims\/\"><strong>&#8203;&#8203;POPE LEO URGES END TO &lsquo;PANDEMIC OF ARMS&rsquo; IN PRAYER FOR MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING VICTIMS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Given many things that have changed, I would say there&rsquo;s been a development in the sense of the need for the church to open and to be welcoming,&rdquo; then-Cardinal Prevost <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/outreach.faith\/2025\/05\/pope-leo-in-2023-all-people-are-welcome-in-the-church\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>, &ldquo;and on that level, I think Pope Francis made it very clear that he doesn&rsquo;t want people to be excluded simply on the basis of choices that they make, whether it be lifestyle, work, way to dress or whatever.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Doctrine hasn&rsquo;t changed, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hope-oklahoma-putting-bible-back-in-schools-after-louisiana-brings-10-commandments-back\/\" title=\"Hope: Oklahoma Putting Bible Back in Schools After Louisiana Brings 10 Commandments Back\">people haven&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t said, yet, you know, we&rsquo;re looking for that kind of change, but we are looking to be more welcoming and more open, and to say all people are welcome in the church,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pope Leo XIV backs LGBTQ inclusion, continuing Francis&#8217;s approach<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2481286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-02-at-2.29.04-AM.png?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33551,62409,62407,54854,62408],"class_list":["post-2481285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-catholic-church","tag-church-diversity","tag-lgbtq-inclusion","tag-pope-leo-xiv","tag-religious-support"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-02-at-2.29.04-AM.png?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2481285"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2481289,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2481285\/revisions\/2481289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2481286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2481285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2481285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2481285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}