VATICAN CITY — More than 1,000 LGBTQ+ Catholics and their family members participated in a Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome on Saturday, walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in a rite of passage that many described as historic and deeply emotional.
Pilgrims said the event reflected a new level of acceptance within the Catholic Church and credited Pope Francis with changing the tone toward LGBTQ+ people. Several participants wept as they crossed the threshold, and some described the moment as a spiritual milestone. "It just felt epic, like I was able to touch the hand of God," said Justin del Rosario, who carried a large wooden crucifix across the Holy Door with a group that included his husband.
The pilgrimage included several LGBTQ+ groups and was listed in the Vatican's official calendar of events for the Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism that draws pilgrims from around the globe. Vatican organizers said the calendar listing was intended as a logistical aid to help coordinate events and pilgrims, and did not signify endorsement or sponsorship by the Holy See.
The main sponsor of the pilgrimage was the Italian LGBTQ+ advocacy organization "Jonathan's Tent," and the delegation included families as well as individual faithful. Participants said inclusion in the Vatican calendar lent visibility and practical support to their journey even as Church authorities clarified the limited meaning of that administrative listing.
Holy Years, traditionally marked by special liturgies, pilgrimages and the symbolic passing through the Holy Door, attract Catholics who seek spiritual renewal and reconciliation. For LGBTQ+ Catholics who have long reported feelings of exclusion or marginalization within the Church, organizers and participants said the pilgrimage represented both a personal and communal milestone.
Organizers did not present the event as a challenge to Church teaching but as an expression of faith by Catholics who also seek belonging within their tradition. Pilgrims described a range of emotions during the procession through St. Peter's Basilica, with family members, partners and friends taking part in the ritual moments that are central to Holy Year observance.
Vatican City has in recent years witnessed public signs of a more pastoral tone from Pope Francis, which some Catholics and advocacy groups say has opened space for greater dialogue and participation. Vatican officials, however, have continued to distinguish between pastoral outreach and formal doctrinal positions.
The pilgrimage follows broader conversations within the global Church about how to minister pastorally to LGBTQ+ faithful while maintaining established teachings. Participants said Saturday's ceremony was primarily about participation in the sacramental life of the Church and recognition of their presence as baptized Catholics.
Pilgrims left Rome after the day's rites with varied impressions but a shared sense that the journey represented an important moment in their religious lives. For some, the act of carrying religious symbols through the Holy Door and being part of a visible procession in St. Peter's Square was both a spiritual affirmation and a public claim to belonging within the Catholic community.
Organizers said they hope the pilgrimage will encourage continued dialogue and create practical opportunities for LGBTQ+ Catholics and their families to participate in Church life. Vatican officials reiterated that the calendar listing was part of routine event coordination and not an institutional endorsement, leaving the broader theological and policy questions to ongoing discussions within the Church.