A New Pope, A New Hope? Will Pope Leo XIV Bring True Inclusion?

For the first time in history, the Vatican belongs to an American. On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago stepped out onto the balcony as Pope Leo XIV, a moment both historic and complicated—especially for LGBTQ+ Catholics who’ve learned to search every gesture and word for a sign of something resembling “welcome.”

Pope Leo XIV is considered a centrist, a diplomat, and a man known for his calm demeanor and worldly experience. He spent years in Peru, where he led missions and opposed “gender ideology” in schools. He once criticized the media for normalizing “homosexual lifestyles,” calling out the show Modern Family as a vehicle for moral confusion. That was over a decade ago, but for many LGBTQ+ people of faith, it still stings. The fear, as always, is that we’ll be invited to the table but not given a seat (unlike Pope Francis.)

Related: In An Unprecedented Move, Pope Francis Endorses Same-Sex Civil Unions

And yet, his first words were about love. About a Church that “builds bridges” and welcomes “everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.” That language matters. For queer Catholics who’ve had to twist themselves into knots just to stay connected to faith, it matters deeply.

It’s still early. Words are only words until they lead to action. But tone is something. Tone sets the table. And right now, queer Catholics are watching, listening, hoping. For safety. For dignity.

Pope Leo XIV may not rewrite doctrine, but if he prioritizes mercy over judgment and upholds the spirit of inclusion, this could be the beginning of something.

Related: Pope Francis Dies At 88, Leaves A Legacy Of Compassion