ended with the same core doctrine for LGBTQ+ people that he inherited: The Catholic Church still and condemned any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as 鈥渋ntrinsically disordered.鈥�
Yet unlike his predecessors, Francis incrementally conveyed through his actions, formal statements and occasional casual remarks that he wanted the church for them.
Frustrated activists, wary conservatives
Among activists, there was frustration over the lack of a doctrinal breakthrough, but still there was gratitude this week for his unabashed warmth toward them.
Francis, who died Monday, 鈥渨as a transformational leader who included LGBTQ people in historic ways,鈥� said Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO of the U.S.-based advocacy group GLAAD, who met twice with the pope. 鈥淗is principles of empathetic listening, inclusion, and compassion are exactly what this divided world needs right now.鈥�
Many conservative Catholic leaders were wary of his LGBTQ+ outreach 鈥� and sometimes were angry and defiant, such as when he decided in 2023 to .
Africa鈥檚 bishops to implement the Vatican declaration, saying same-sex relationships were 鈥渃ontrary to the will of God.鈥� Individual bishops in Eastern Europe, Latin America and elsewhere also voiced opposition.
The declaration restated traditional church teaching that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and woman. But it allowed priests to offer spontaneous blessings to same-sex couples seeking God鈥檚 grace, provided such blessings aren鈥檛 confused with the rites of a wedding.
Francis later acknowledged the declaration had encountered resistance; he faulted opposing bishops for refusing to open a dialogue about it.
鈥淪ometimes decisions are not accepted," he said in a TV interview. "But in most cases, when you don鈥檛 accept a decision, it鈥檚 because you don鈥檛 understand.鈥�
鈥淭his has happened with these last decisions about blessing everyone,鈥� Francis added. 鈥淭he Lord blesses everyone.鈥�
The beneficiaries of Francis' welcoming attitude included a 鈥� many of them Latin American migrants who worked in Rome as prostitutes 鈥� who visited his weekly general audiences and were given VIP seats.
鈥淏efore, the church was closed to us. They didn鈥檛 see us as normal people. They saw us as the devil,鈥� said Colombia-born Andrea Paola Torres Lopez. 鈥淭hen Pope Francis arrived, and the doors of the church opened for us.鈥�
A 2023 synod reflects Francis' mixed legacy
The pope鈥檚 mixed legacy was epitomized by the Vatican鈥檚 2023 synod bringing together hundreds of bishops and lay people to discuss the church's future. The advance agenda mentioned LGBTQ+ issues; one of Francis鈥� hand-picked delegates was the Rev. James Martin, a U.S.-based Jesuit and prominent advocate of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Yet in the of the three-week synod, there was no mention of LGBTQ+ people 鈥� reflecting the influence of conservatives who opposed Francis鈥� overtures to that community.
During the synod, the pope met with a small delegation from the Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which advocates on behalf of LGBTQ+ Catholics in the U.S.
According to the group鈥檚 executive director, Francis DeBernardo, the pope urged them never to lose hope 鈥� a message DeBernardo repeated after being disappointed by the synod鈥檚 outcome.
鈥淭he Catholic LGBTQ+ community must take Pope Francis鈥� message to heart,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he report鈥檚 shortcomings are an invitation to speak anew about their joys, their sorrows, and their faith. 鈥� Now is not a time to despair.鈥�
Another disappointment came in May 2024, after Italian media quoted unnamed bishops saying he jokingly used the vulgar term 鈥渇aggotness鈥� while speaking in Italian during a meeting. He had used the term in reaffirming the Vatican鈥檚 ban on allowing gay men to enter seminaries and be ordained priests.
This week, DeBernardo looked back at Francis鈥� legacy mostly with appreciation, even while acknowledging disappointments.
鈥淔rancis was not only the first pope to use the word 'gay鈥� when speaking about LGBTQ+ people, he was the first pope to speak lovingly and tenderly to them,鈥� DeBernardo wrote. 鈥淗is kind words of welcome to this community, traditionally marginalized in the church, rang loudly around the globe.鈥�
An early message 鈥� 鈥榃ho am I to judge?鈥�
It became clear early in Francis鈥� papacy that he was going to articulate a gentler, more tolerant approach to LGBTQ+ people than any previous pope. The initial high-profile moment came in 2013 -鈥� during the first airborne news conference of his pontificate 鈥� with his memorable comment when he was asked about a purportedly gay priest.
Signals had come earlier. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had favored granting legal protections to same-sex couples. After becoming pope, he went on to minister repeatedly and publicly to the gay and transgender communities, steadily evolving his position. His abiding message: 鈥淓veryone, everyone, everyone鈥� 鈥� 鈥渢odos, todos, todos鈥� 鈥� is loved by God and should be welcomed in the church.
On some specific LGBTQ+ issues, Francis initially disappointed activists with his decisions, yet later softened or reversed them as part of highlighting his welcoming approach.
Francis was criticized by the Catholic gay community for a 2021 decree from the Vatican鈥檚 doctrine office saying the church cannot bless same-sex unions because 鈥淕od cannot bless sin.鈥� But that stance was effectively repudiated by the 2023 declaration on blessings.
Another reversal came that year in a Vatican statement saying it鈥檚 permissible, under certain circumstances, for transgender people to be baptized and serve as godparents
If it did not cause scandal or 鈥渄isorientation鈥� among other Catholics, a transgender person 鈥渕ay receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful,鈥� it said.
Similarly, the document said trans adults, even if they had gender-transition surgery, could serve as godparents under certain conditions. That reversed an earlier outright ban.
U.S. transgender-rights advocates welcomed Francis鈥� inclusive tone, noting that some political and religious leaders were targeting trans people with discriminatory laws and policies.
鈥楤eing homosexual isn鈥檛 a crime鈥�
Another issue tackled by Francis pertained to laws in dozens of countries criminalizing homosexual activity.
In 2008, the Vatican declined to sign a U.N. declaration calling for an end to such laws. But in a 2023 , Francis assailed these laws as unjust and called for their elimination.
鈥淏eing homosexual isn鈥檛 a crime,鈥� Francis said.
Francis acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some regions support laws that criminalize homosexuality or discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. But he attributed such attitudes to cultural backgrounds, and said bishops need to recognize the dignity of everyone.
鈥淭hese bishops have to have a process of conversion,鈥� he said, suggesting they should apply 鈥渢enderness, please, as God has for each one of us.鈥�
Advocates of greater LGBTQ+ inclusion hailed Francis鈥� comments.
鈥淗is historic statement should send a message to world leaders and millions of Catholics around the world: LGBTQ people deserve to live in a world without violence and condemnation, and more kindness and understanding,鈥� said Ellis, the head of GLAAD.
Praise also came from Martin, who was selected by Francis as a synod delegate.
鈥淔ew bishops or bishops鈥� conferences have condemned the criminalizing laws that the pope rejected today,鈥� he wrote of the AP interview.
But Jamie Manson, a lesbian who headed the U.S.-based abortion-rights group Catholics for Choice, insisted declarations were not enough.
鈥淟GBTQ people need more than nice-sounding words in a newspaper interview in order to be safe in the Catholic Church,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淲e need doctrinal change.鈥�
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
David Crary, The Associated Press
