The election of Pope Leo XIV has sent ripples through the Catholic Church and beyond. At 69, Robert Francis Prevost — a Chicago-born, Peruvian-naturalized Augustinian friar — is the first American to ascend to the papacy. For many, his global background, pastoral tone, and ties to Pope Francis signal continuity and calm.
But for LGBTQ+ Catholics, there’s one question that cuts through the celebration: Where does he stand?
See also: Why Pope Leo XIV Chose His Name — And What It Means for the Church
Pope Leo XIV: A New Pope, an Old Question on LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Prevost’s election comes at a time of deep tension within the Church on LGBTQ+ rights. Under Pope Francis, the Vatican made tentative steps toward a more inclusive tone — blessing same-sex couples (unofficially), meeting openly with LGBTQ+ Catholics, and condemning anti-LGBTQ+ laws around the world. But those gestures often stopped short of changing doctrine.
Now, with Leo XIV in charge, many wonder: Will he pick up where Francis left off — or roll it back?
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What He’s Said — and What He Hasn’t
So far, Pope Leo XIV hasn’t addressed LGBTQ+ rights directly since taking the throne of Saint Peter. His first public words focused on unity, peace, and a warm global welcome. But past comments offer insight into his stance — and they’re raising concern.
In a 2012 homily, then-Bishop Prevost criticized Western media for showing “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,” citing the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” That language, reported by The New York Times, reflects a doctrinally conservative view, albeit one not uncommon at the time.
More recently, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost responded cautiously to the Vatican’s 2023 declaration Fiducia supplicans, which allowed priests to bless same-sex couples. He acknowledged its intent but warned that applying it in countries where homosexuality is criminalized would be culturally “challenging.” His tone was more diplomatic than hostile — but still far from affirming.
See also: Who is Robert Francis Prevost? Everything You Need to Know About the First American Pope
A Low-Profile Legacy
Part of what makes Leo XIV’s views hard to pin down is that he’s simply not said very much publicly. He’s given few interviews and has steered clear of culture-war topics. His reputation in Vatican circles is that of a listener, a problem-solver, and a loyal Francis-era insider — not a firebrand.
Still, as National Catholic Reporter’s Christopher White notes, Prevost is a strong supporter of synodality, a process of Church governance that emphasizes listening, collaboration, and the input of local communities. In a 2023 Vatican News interview, he said:
“We need to really listen to the Holy Spirit and the spirit of truth-seeking that lives in the Church.”
For LGBTQ+ Catholics, the question is whether that listening includes them.
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Reactions from LGBTQ+ Advocates
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, released a statement urging Leo XIV to continue Francis’s path of cautious inclusion:
“With Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love… We are hopeful to collaborate with Pope Leo, just as we did with Pope Francis.”
The tone is optimistic — but clearly conditional. Leo XIV has inherited not just a divided Church, but a global stage where silence on LGBTQ+ rights is itself a message.
See also: Why Pope Francis Chose to Be Buried at Santa Maria Maggiore — Not St. Peter’s
What’s Next?
LGBTQ+ Catholics are paying close attention to the early days of this papacy — to the appointments, the speeches, the silences. For some, Pope Leo XIV’s name, echoing the socially engaged Leo XIII, suggests a pope ready to meet the modern world. For others, the 2012 homily and guarded stance on blessings suggest a pope more concerned with preserving doctrine than expanding welcome.
Either way, the spotlight is here. And for a Church still reckoning with how — or whether — to include LGBTQ+ people in its vision of community, leadership, and love, what the pope doesn’t say may matter just as much as what he does.
