Pope Leo XIV held a meeting with a same-sex couple, sparking debate about the Vatican's course of action

Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with two men in same-sex civil unions, sparking a new wave of debate about the pontiff’s pastoral course toward the LGBT community. The encounter is seen as a continuation of an approach characteristic of the Pope Francis era, and draws attention to a series of recent personnel decisions and gestures indicating the Vatican is maintaining a more open stance.

As Alex Capecelatro, CEO of Josh.ai, said on his Facebook account, he and his LGBT partner Brian D. Stevens were received by the pontiff as part of a delegation affiliated with Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez. According to Capecelatro, they «felt a warm and kind welcome» when they informed the Pope of their civil marriage. It is noted that the Pope «nodded approvingly» when the men mentioned the work of Jesuit priest James Martin, known for his work with LGBT Catholics. That said, Pope Leo made no direct reference to the Church’s teachings on marriage or sexuality during the meeting.

This audience fits into a series of recent moves that observers see as signaling pastoral continuity with Pope Francis. Earlier in October, the Vatican appointed a bishop who supports LGBT liturgies as a consultant to the Commission on Religious Relations with Jews. That same month, Pope Leo appointed Cardinal Blase Cupich, known for his liberal views on serving LGBT Catholics, to the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission on Vatican City-State Affairs.

The gestures have raised concerns among some Catholic commentators. LifeSiteNews editor-in-chief John-Henry Westen, for example, argues that such actions risk «tacitly enshrining a false new direction» that contradicts longstanding Church teaching. Official Catholic Church doctrine states that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, homosexual acts are a grave sin, and attraction to one’s sex is «objectively disordered.» It is also reported that tomorrow Pope Leo is scheduled to have a special lunch at the Vatican with transgender activists.

Recall that on September 6, 2025, in the Shrine of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Rome, representatives of the RCC mass for homosexual Catholics. The event was held «with the blessing» of Pope Leo XIV and gathered about 1200 participants. The Mass was led by Bishop Francesco Savino, vice president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.