He Vatican included an event organized by LGBT Catholics on your official online calendar for the next Roman Catholic Holy Year 2025in an unusual sign of openness of the global Church towards the gay community.
The pilgrimage of the Italian group “The Gionata Tenda” (Jonathan’s Shop), scheduled for September, is among hundreds of events scheduled for the Jubilee, which is expected to attract some 32 million tourists to Rome next year.
It is hoped that the group, which describes its goal as promoting the reception of LGBT people Within the Church, host a prayer vigil at a local Rome parish before making a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica.
A Vatican official told Reuters that the group’s inclusion on the calendar did not imply support for its actions.
“They are not sponsored activities,” said Agnese Palmucci, spokeswoman for the Vatican’s evangelization office, which organizes the Jubilee.
Rome is the world center of the Catholic Holy Year, which begins on December 24, Christmas Eveand will last until January 6, 2026. Jubilees like this are normally celebrated once every 25 years.
Catholic pilgrims coming to Rome during the Jubilee will be able to pass through special “Holy Doors” that will be open at St. Peter’s and three other basilicas in Rome.
The Vatican is concerned above all with ensuring that all pilgrims have the opportunity to pass through the “Holy Doors,” Palmucci said.
Once it is confirmed that there is space, we insert the pilgrimage into the general calendar,” he said.
It is attributed to Pope Francis credited with leading the Catholic Church to adopt a more welcoming approach towards the LGBT community, and has allowed priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis.
