(ZENIT News / Rome, 12.08.2024).- The upcoming Holy Year of 2025 is set to make history by including, for the first time, a dedicated day for Christian and Catholic associations involved in LGBT pastoral care. This unprecedented move, scheduled for September 6, 2025, underscores a message of inclusion under Pope Francis’ ongoing call for a more welcoming Church.
While the vice-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, sought to frame this event as one among many within the broader Jubilee calendar, his message was clear: “All are welcome.” Vatican representatives have emphasized that the inclusion does not equate to sponsorship of specific events, reflecting a careful balancing act within the Church’s approach to contentious issues.
A Vision of Inclusion
The initiative was spearheaded by “Tenda di Gionata” (Jonathan’s Tent), a group inspired by the late Don David Esposito, who envisioned Christian communities embracing Isaiah’s call to “enlarge the tent” to make room for all, especially those marginalized by discrimination. Since its founding in 2018, the organization has sought to foster spaces of welcome and support for LGBT individuals and their families within the Church.
This groundbreaking inclusion has reportedly received blessings not only from Pope Francis but also from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. Their support has fueled both enthusiasm and skepticism, even as secular LGBT groups voice cautious optimism.
A Broader Conversation
Gabriele Piazzoni, secretary-general of Arcigay, Italy’s largest LGBT advocacy group, celebrated the initiative as a step toward dismantling barriers to spiritual life for LGBTQIA+ individuals. However, others, such as Roberta Parigiani of the Trans Identity Movement, urged that this gesture go beyond symbolic acknowledgment, calling for consistent, everyday actions of inclusion.
Rosario Coco, president of Gaynet, extended a challenge to the Church: to leverage the Jubilee as an opportunity to clearly condemn conversion practices and global criminalization of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
A Spiritual Journey
The program for the September 6 celebration includes an evening vigil, a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, and a Mass at the Church of the Gesù, a historic Jesuit site in central Rome that has long supported LGBT pastoral efforts. Families, pastoral workers, and members of rainbow associations will join in prayer and reflection.
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