When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, both he and I were stepping into new leadership roles. Neither of us could have predicted the turbulent decade ahead, but one thing has remained constant in both of our roles—a firm and dedicated commitment to making the world a safe home for all, not just some.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting the Vatican and meeting with Pope Francis twice to speak about LGBTQ people—once in 2023 with colleagues at GLAAD who led Spanish language and faith work, and a second time with transgender leaders and LGBTQ advocates from Uganda and Ghana. Each meeting was scheduled for 30 minutes; both times, we spoke for well over an hour.
In a world where LGBTQ people are too often dismissed, Pope Francis made time to listen.
His leadership has marked a profound shift in how the Church engages with LGBTQ people. From his famous “Who am I to judge?” 2013 quote to his more recent endorsement of gay priests, decision to bless same-sex couples, and enduring support for immigrants, he has shown a willingness to meet people where they are, rather than where historical doctrine says they should be. That willingness has not come without resistance, but leadership is not about pleasing everyone—it’s about doing what is right.
Pope Francis has chosen to do what is right when it comes to condemning barbaric laws that criminalize people for being LGBTQ. Roughly half of the 63 countries that criminalize people just for being born LGBTQ are Catholic-majority countries and in 12 countries, it can result in the death penalty. Hearing directly from LGBTQ people of faith from around the world who fear for the lives of their friends, families, and romantic partners makes a clear case that criminalization laws are antithetical to all that the Church teaches and stands for.
Jesus loved all and extended a hand to everyone, but in many of these countries, extending a hand to a LGBTQ neighbor or congregant would land you in jail. Shortly after hearing the stories of brave and faithful LGBTQ Catholics in Uganda, Pope Francis smartly and compassionately used his voice to warn against the unjust and godless laws. In a 2023 Associated Press article by Nicole Winfield that ran around the world and attracted massive global praise, he stated: “Being homosexual isn’t a crime. … We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity.”
Pope Francis faced criticism from both progressives, who wished he would go further, and conservatives, who wished he would turn back. But he understood—the Church cannot claim to be universal while shutting its doors to those who could benefit from the protection of the Church. His compassion was not symbolic; it was transformative. I witnessed that firsthand when he met with transgender people who were maligned by recent documents issued by the Church. They had long been made to feel like outsiders in their own faith.
He embraced them—not as a theory, not as an ideology, but as people.
Change does not happen overnight. It starts with conversations like these. Imagine if politicians and other religious leaders took that humane step.
At a time when world leaders across politics, business, and religion too often malign and scapegoat LGBTQ people, my meetings with Pope Francis reinforced the power of our stories and our shared humanity.
I opened up to him about growing up a proud Irish Catholic and then having to leave the Catholic Church after marrying my wife. We were blessed with two children and the Catholic Church would not baptize them because they have two mothers. I joined the Episcopal Church, one of the many faiths that welcomes and includes LGBTQ people.
Looking at photos of my family and hearing how the Church was unfairly closed to my children, Pope Francis stated simply that the Church must be open to everyone, and reminded us that he is not the one who created that rule. Jesus did.
Shortly after, he announced that same-sex couples can be blessed by the Church.
This is the Pope I met. A leader who listened. A shepherd who welcomed. A man who reminded the world that faith should never be a weapon.
The work is not finished. There are still deep wounds to heal and barriers to break. But if the past decade has shown us anything, it is that change is possible. Not through exclusion, but through understanding. Not through fear, but through love.
Pope Francis has set an example for religious leaders, policymakers, and all of us who believe in a world where dignity is not conditional. Now, it’s up to us to carry that work forward.
Sarah Kate Ellis is president and CEO of GLAAD.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
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