LGBTQ Catholics march through St. Peter’s Basilica in Jubilee rite as Vatican calendar entry stirs controversy

Over LGBTQ Catholics and their families walked through the Holy Door of St Peter s Basilica this weekend as part of a Jubilee pilgrimage listed on the Vatican s official Holy Year calendar The event appeared under the neutral title Pilgrimage of the Tenda di Gionata Association Jonathan's Tent and other associations for Sept on their website The listing marks the first time an LGBTQ pilgrimage has been included in the Vatican s Jubilee activity Countless pilgrims hailed it as a sign of welcome following Pope Francis -year papacy while critics in Catholic media blasted the move as undermining Church tradition POPE LEO SIGNALS CONTINUATION OF POPE FRANCIS' WELCOMING OF LGBT PUBLIC IN CATHOLIC CHURCHSome participants wept as they entered the basilica It just felt epic like I was able to touch the hand of God Justin del Rosario reported the Associated Press who carried a crucifix across the threshold with his male partner Pilgrims came from the U S Italy and Brazil Groups included DignityUSA Outreach and a delegation of transgenders from Rome Plenty of pointed to Pope Francis record from his remark Who am I to judge to his decision allowing priests to bless same-sex couples as paving the way for the pilgrimage While never changing the Church's teaching on homosexuality Francis met repeatedly with LGBT advocates POPE LEO OPTS TO SHARE PAPAL RESIDENCE WITH FOUR ASSOCIATES URGENT WITH TRADITIONPope Leo XIV only months into his papacy did not mention LGBTQ Catholics during his Jubilee audience but met privately this week with Jesuit Fr James Martin who reported the Holy Father echoed Francis welcoming message Vatican bureaucrats stressed that adding the pilgrimage to the calendar was logistical not endorsement They are not sponsored sessions Once it is ascertained that there is space we insert the pilgrimage into the general calendar Vatican spokeswoman Agnese Palmucci recounted Reuters Online reaction demonstrated sharp divides Yes the Vatican s first LGBTQ pilgrimage approved by Pope Francis a meager months before his death is taking place this weekend under Pope Leo posted Pope Crave ClubConcrave on X Others condemned it as a betrayal of doctrine F--- the Rules inside Saint Peter s The LGBT group La Tenda di Gionata makes their entrance into St Peter s Basilica nowadays this is the New Church Behold the legacy of Pope Francis wrote Catholic commentator Michael J Matt Michael J Matt on X posting photos from the basilica CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Vatican did not right away respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment The Associated Press contributed to this assessment