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Pope Francis met with LGBTQ activists at the Vatican in a private 80-minute meeting to discuss the Catholic Church’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. The meeting included a transgender man from Boston who shared his joy in undergoing hormone replacement therapy and surgeries. The Vatican’s doctrinal office had previously rejected gender-affirming care, but LGBTQ groups criticized the decision for not seeking input from transgender individuals. The activists expressed the importance of speaking with transgender people when making policies in this area.

Despite the Vatican’s rejection of gender-affirming care, the pope was described as receptive and empathetic during the meeting, emphasizing the well-being of individuals. Francis, known for his welcoming approach towards the LGBTQ community, has allowed priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis. However, earlier this year, he used a derogatory term about LGBTQ people, for which the Vatican apologized. The meeting was organized by New Ways Ministry, an advocacy group for LGBTQ Catholics, and was seen as a positive step towards the church listening to the experiences of transgender individuals.

Sister Jeannine Gramick, the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, who asked Francis for the encounter, believes the meeting signifies the church’s progress in joining the modern era. Gramick has faced criticism from Vatican and U.S. Catholic officials in the past but has developed a correspondence with Francis, who welcomed her for a meeting at the Vatican last year. The Vatican’s press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the meeting.

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