American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on Thursday, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV. As the first pontiff from the United States, his election marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church. He is widely expected to continue elements of the reformist path begun by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away last month.
Pope Leo XIV’s views on LGBTQ+ issues are not yet fully known, but past comments have raised concerns. In 2021, during a bishops’ meeting, he reportedly criticised Western media and pop culture for fostering “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,” specifically referencing the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children,” according to The New York Times.
LGBTQ+ Catholic Leader Shares Cautious Optimism
Michael O’Loughlin, executive director of Outreach—a resource and support network for LGBTQ+ Catholics—expressed cautious hope in a statement to The Advocate.
“From his choice of name honouring a pope committed to justice, to his call for a church focused on peace and dialogue, early signs show that Pope Leo XIV hopes to continue the pastoral outreach of Pope Francis,” O’Loughlin said.
“While we do not yet know how the new pope will interact with LGBT Catholics, the same was true in 2013 on the night Pope Francis was elected, and his pontificate wound up being inspiring to so many in our community.”
The new pope’s choice of name may also hold symbolic weight. Pope Leo XIII, for whom he is presumably named, is remembered for advocating workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution—a signal, perhaps, of a commitment to justice and reform.
“As a gay Catholic myself, and one who lived for a decade in Pope Leo’s home city of Chicago,” O’Loughlin added, “I’m hopeful for the church and offering prayers for the new pope.”
Francis’s Legacy with LGBTQ+ Catholics
Pope Francis, though often restrained by Church doctrine, was seen by many as more inclusive than his predecessors. In 2013, he made global headlines by asking, “If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with goodwill, who am I to judge?”
Francis later stated that the Church should apologise to LGBTQ+ people for how it had treated them. He frequently met with LGBTQ+ Catholics and advocates, including transgender individuals, though he also made several critical remarks about trans identities during his tenure.
In contrast, Pope Benedict XVI—Francis’s predecessor—was openly opposed to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Church.
As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, LGBTQ+ Catholics and allies around the world will be watching closely to see whether his leadership will reflect continuity with Pope Francis’s spirit of dialogue, or signal a return to more conservative interpretations.
