A New Pope, A New Chapter

A New Pope, A New Chapter: What Pope Leo XIV Could Mean for LGBTQ+ Christians

May 8, 2025 — Today, history was made.

Pope Leo XIV was announced as the successor to Pope Francis, becoming the first American pope in the Church’s two-thousand-year history. The news quickly spread across global media—but for many LGBTQ+ Christians, the question behind the headline is deeper: what does this mean for us?

A New Era with Familiar Hopes

Every time a new pope is elected, hope flickers. Some dare to believe this new leader might be the one to speak more openly, listen more deeply, or act more boldly when it comes to affirming all of God's children—including those of us who have often been excluded, misunderstood, or silenced because of our identity.

It’s too early to know what kind of papacy Pope Leo XIV will lead, but the symbolism of this moment is powerful. A pope from the United States—a country that has both led and lagged in LGBTQ+ rights—now carries the shepherd’s staff. And how he speaks, acts, and leads will ripple through countless lives.

Watching for More Than Smoke

We’ve learned to watch beyond the smoke and headlines. We watch the words. The tone. The silences. Will Pope Leo XIV address the LGBTQ+ faithful not just as theological questions but as beloved members of Christ’s body? Will he recognize our presence not as a problem to be solved, but as a gift to be received?

He doesn’t need to rewrite centuries of doctrine overnight. But if he’s willing to speak with tenderness, to honor our humanity, and to challenge the harmful narratives that have hurt so many—that, in itself, would be a holy beginning.

Our Faith Is Not on Pause

For LGBTQ+ Christians, this day is more than a Vatican announcement—it’s a reminder that our faith is still active, still vibrant, still growing. We’ve been walking with Christ in churches, in homes, in quiet prayer and public witness, with or without the Church’s full embrace.

We’ve never waited for someone in Rome to tell us we belong in the body of Christ. We’ve known it all along. But leadership that acknowledges our worth can help repair the damage religion has done. It can give courage to the closeted. It can offer peace to the parents of queer children. It can call the Church back to its roots: love, mercy, justice, and truth.

Let’s Not Miss What Matters Most

Pope Leo XIV's election opens a door to possibility, and we hope he walks through it. We hope he sits with people whose faith has survived despite rejection. We hope he speaks of belonging, not just behavior. And we hope he models what Jesus modeled—radical, inconvenient love that includes even those the world would rather ignore.

But whether or not that happens, here’s what we know:

LGBTQ+ Christians are not fringe. We are not broken. We are not waiting to be fixed.

We are faithful.

We are called.

We are already here.

And the Spirit has never stopped moving through us.