In the face of the LGBTQ+ lobby jubilee pilgrimage, silence does not suffice

Let us revisit the LGBTQ+ Jubilee pilgrimage to St Peter's on 6 September, as the gravity of the situation cannot be overstated. At least two aspects of the story are worth noting.

Firstly, the extensive network of complicity that permitted a mini Gay Pride event to take place indicates the size and power of the gay lobby within the Vatican. The display of LGBTQ+ symbols and slogans — starting with the rainbow jubilee cross — the extensive publicity for the event, Father James Martin's skilful exploitation of a private audience with Leo XIV and the Vatican Press Office's stubborn silence despite repeated requests for an explanation speak volumes.

Someone is pulling the strings here, and although the Pope did not engage in special audiences, hand-kissing or blessings, the plan was successful. Photos of homosexual activist couples entering St Peter's hand in hand, others flaunting rainbow accessories, and still others wearing T-shirts bearing vulgar slogans have been seen around the world, planting another flag in the Vatican.

Once again, we must make it clear that this is not about welcoming homosexual people, who, like all pilgrims, come to Rome on a journey of conversion and commitment to orienting their lives towards God. No, these are organised groups that are imposing the normalisation of actions that the Church has always considered to be grave sins. They demand that the Church convert to their beliefs and, unfortunately, encounter bishops who indulge them. One example is Monsignor Francesco Savino, Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio and Vice-President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), who celebrated their Jubilee Mass. Here is the homily. By turning it into an opportunity for sectoral demands on the trade union model, a negative testimony was given to the meaning of the Jubilee and to the nature of pilgrimage.

This is linked to the second point: as we mentioned earlier, the aim of this event and all actions of self-styled Catholic LGBTQ+ groups is to normalise homosexuality — to make it accepted as a normal variant of sexuality. However, according to Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is one of the four 'sins that cry out to Heaven' (CCC 1867), that is, sins so grave that they disturb the social order and require God's intervention to restore justice.

In other words, the actions of the LGBTQ+ lobby, particularly on 6 September, constitute an attempt at a moral revolution and an attempt to subvert Catholic doctrine. This was anticipated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in the 1986 Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons:

“Nevertheless, increasing numbers of people today, even within the Church, are bringing enormous pressure to bear on the Church to accept the homosexual condition as though it were not disordered and to condone homosexual activity. Those within the Church who argue in this fashion often have close ties with those with similar views outside it. These latter groups are guided by a vision opposed to the truth about the human person, which is fully disclosed in the mystery of Christ (…).
The movement within the Church, which takes the form of pressure groups of various names and sizes, attempts to give the impression that it represents all homosexual persons who are Catholics. As a matter of fact, its membership is by and large restricted to those who either ignore the teaching of the Church or seek somehow to undermine it. It brings together under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behaviour.”

This is an attempt at a moral revolution and a subversion of Catholic doctrine — the offensive has arrived inside St Peter's Basilica. The stakes are therefore very high. Having counted on the support of Pope Francis, they are now seeking to force the hand of Pope Leo XIV at this time of transition and reflection, with increasingly daring gestures and relying on vast complicity within the Vatican machine, as we have seen on this occasion.

So far, Pope Leo has not said a word about this, avoiding falling into the media trap himself; even on this occasion, he did not grant any special audiences, send a message or deliver his Angelus address. However, in the face of the audacity of LGBTQ+ organisations and the media impact of their initiatives, the strategy of not getting involved is no longer sufficient. This is all the more pertinent given that the Press Office, which is otherwise very quick to intervene on other issues (see the immediate clarifications on the recent audience granted to Israeli President Isaac Herzog), has remained silent.

As Robert Royal pointed out in The Catholic Thing, it cannot be overlooked that the event on 6 September is the first jubilee event 'for groups that celebrate sin', and silence, whether we like it or not, legitimises those who promote this agenda. Faced with deep divisions within the Church, Pope Leo has so far demonstrated his wisdom in making corrections without causing rifts. However, if the modalities of the LGBTQ jubilee pilgrimage are indeed an ambush, then a more decisive response will be necessary.