All of us have prayed for our Church and that the Holy Spirit would guide the Cardinals in their solemn responsibility to choose our next Pope—one who understands and cares not only for the institution of the Church, but also for its 1.4 billion followers around the world. In this world of uncertainty and danger, the need for courage, strong leadership, compassion, and pastoral care for the many wounded, marginalised, and rejected is more urgent than ever.
Today Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as Pope, Leo XIV.
We now commence a new era in the Catholic Church with the election of Archbishop Cardinal Robert Prevost, who has taken the name of Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinal Robert Prevost spent much of his career in Peru, serving as a seminary teacher, pastor, diocesan official, and later as bishop of Chiclayo and apostolic administrator of Callao. Before that, he was provincial prior in Chicago and twice served as prior general of the Augustinian order.
In a 2012 address to bishops, he expressed concern that Western news media and popular culture promote “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel,” specifically referencing the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” Prevost opposed the ordination of women as deacons, reflecting a conservative position on certain doctrinal matters.
But opinions and ideas can change, and he supported Pope Francis’ change in pastoral practice to allow divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion, and he showed mild, but present, support for Fiducia Supplicans. He has expressed openness to marginalized groups, though his stance on specific issues like blessing same-sex couples remains ambiguous.
In the past, he rejected clerical privilege, saying, “The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom,” but must instead be “humble, close to the people, walking and suffering with them.” and he has consistently emphasized the need to build bridges.
We believe this signals a Church that will stand with the poorest and most marginalised, and that real dialogue remains possible.
His first words were simple: “Peace be with you.” He then added, “Thanks to Pope Francis.”
As a global community of LGBTIQ Catholics and supporters, we believe progress will continue toward building a more welcoming and inclusive Church. It might not be fast, but we feel, that with effort, it will be steady.
We are hopeful that Pope Leo will continue the Synod process, which has offered hope to many, including LGBTIQ Catholics and our families, by fostering broad-based listening and thoughtful engagement with previously taboo topics.
“We hope our new Pope will continue to learn from the stories of LGBTIQ people, celebrate our gifts, and recognise that certain teachings and practices have caused harm to members of the Body of Christ and must be re-examined. We join many around the world in praying for his ministry in this new role.” said Marianne Duddy Burke, Co Chair of the GNRC (The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics).
And Chris Vella, Co Chair of GNRC said “We are grateful to the Holy Spirit who guided the Cardinals in their discernment. We pray that Pope Leo XIV will lead the Church with wisdom and be a shepherd who knows the human flock well.”
We encourage him to continue listening to LGBTIQ people—to their stories, their faith, and their wounds. Only by listening can the Church come to see us as more than statistics, ideologies, or theological abstractions.
The Global Network of Rainbow Catholics was founded, and remains inspired, by Pope Francis—by his words, his gestures, and his invitation to walk the path of the Gospel. We believe that under Pope Leo XIV, that path will continue.
We pray for Pope Leo XIV, his papacy, and the ongoing renewal of our Church, all for the glory of God.
Marianne Duddy-Burke and Christopher Vella
GNRC Co-Chairs