More than 1,000 LGBTQ Catholics and their families passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica this weekend as part of a Jubilee pilgrimage that has stirred both celebration and controversy across the Catholic world.

The event was quietly listed on the Vatican’s official Holy Year calendar under the neutral title “Pilgrimage of the Tenda di Gionata Association (Jonathan’s Tent) and other associations” for September 6, 2025. For the first time, an LGBTQ group appeared in the Vatican’s Jubilee program, a milestone that many pilgrims saw as a sign of welcome after years of exclusion.

A Historic First

Pilgrims came from across the globe, including the United States, Italy, and Brazil. Organizations such as DignityUSA, Outreach, and a delegation of transgender Catholics from Rome joined the walk through the basilica’s ancient threshold. Some participants were overcome with emotion.

“It just felt epic, like I was able to touch the hand of God,” said Justin del Rosario, who carried a crucifix across the threshold alongside his partner.

Many pointed to Pope Francis’ legacy as paving the way for this moment. From his 2013 remark “Who am I to judge?” to his recent allowance for priests to bless same-sex couples, Francis’ papacy was marked by gestures of outreach—even while official church teaching on homosexuality remained unchanged.

New Era, Ongoing Tensions

Pope Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy earlier this year after Francis’ death, did not mention LGBTQ Catholics directly during his Jubilee audience. However, he reportedly met privately this week with Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin, a well-known advocate for LGBTQ Catholics, who said the pope echoed Francis’ welcoming spirit.

Vatican officials emphasized that the listing on the Jubilee calendar should not be mistaken for an endorsement. “They are not sponsored activities. Once it is ascertained that there is space, we insert the pilgrimage into the general calendar,” said Vatican spokeswoman Agnese Palmucci.

Reactions of Joy and Backlash

Online reactions reflected the deep divide within the Catholic community. Supporters hailed the moment as historic, noting it came just months after Francis’ passing.

“Yes, the Vatican’s first LGBTQ+ pilgrimage approved by Pope Francis a few months before his death is taking place this weekend under Pope Leo,” wrote one commenter on X.

Others, however, blasted the event as undermining Catholic teaching. Catholic commentator Michael J. Matt posted photos from the basilica with the caption: “F– the Rules inside Saint Peter’s. The LGBT group La Tenda di Gionata makes their entrance into St. Peter’s Basilica today… this is the New Church. Behold the legacy of Pope Francis.”

Faith, Identity, and the Future

For many of the pilgrims, the event represented both their faith in Christ and their longing for full belonging within the Catholic Church. For others, it was a moment of concern about doctrine and fidelity to tradition.

As the Jubilee year continues, the Vatican’s balancing act between pastoral welcome and doctrinal clarity will remain under scrutiny. But for those who walked through the Holy Door on Saturday, it was a moment they will never forget—a symbolic step toward reconciliation between their faith and their identity.