More than 1,000 LGBTQ Catholics and their family members walked through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome this weekend as part of a Jubilee pilgrimage that appeared on the Vatican’s official Holy Year calendar, an entry that has stirred controversy.
The listing on the Vatican website identified the event under the neutral heading "Pilgrimage of the Tenda di Gionata Association (Jonathan's Tent) and other associations" for Sept. 6, 2025. Pilgrims came from the United States, Italy and Brazil and represented groups including DignityUSA, Outreach and a delegation of transgender Catholics from Rome.
Some participants wept as they entered the basilica and crossed the threshold. "It just felt epic, like I was able to touch the hand of God," Justin del Rosario told the Associated Press after carrying a crucifix across the Holy Door with his male partner. Organizers and attendees described the pilgrimage as a Jubilee observance, part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year calendar, and said it was meant as a spiritual rite and a plea for pastoral inclusion.
On the eve of the basilica procession, participants gathered for a vigil prayer at the Church of the Gesù in central Rome. Andrea Mattei, holding a rainbow cross, was among those who arrived to attend the Sept. 5 service. Organizers said the gatherings included liturgical prayer, shared testimonies and moments of silence.
The Vatican calendar entry drew attention because the official listing appeared on the Holy Year site without a special designation for the subject of the pilgrimage. The appearance of the pilgrimage on the Vatican schedule prompted public discussion in Italy and abroad about the relationship between the institutional Church and LGBTQ faithful. Organizers said they welcomed the listing as recognition of a religious event; critics have said its inclusion raised questions about pastoral boundaries and liturgical propriety.
Pilgrims who spoke to reporters connected the moment to what they described as a shift in tone under Pope Francis. Many attendees said they felt the pope’s recent pastoral emphasis on mercy and accompaniment had created space for LGBTQ Catholics to present themselves as part of the Church. Participants included longtime members of advocacy organizations and families who described decades of estrangement from parish life.
Vatican officials did not immediately issue a detailed public statement explaining the calendar entry or commenting on the reactions. The Holy Year calendar routinely lists pilgrimages and events taking place in Rome during the Jubilee; some entries are listed under association names rather than descriptions of participants.
The pilgrimage marked a visible and emotional occasion for those involved, who carried crucifixes and banners as they moved through St. Peter’s Square and the basilica. Organizers said the event aimed to be both a spiritual observance and a call for pastoral care, while emphasizing the participants’ identity as Catholics.
Observers said the episode illustrates ongoing tensions within the global Church over how to address questions of pastoral outreach, doctrinal teaching and liturgical practice. For the pilgrims, the day represented a long-awaited instance of belonging. For others, the Vatican calendar listing has reopened debate about the limits and forms of official recognition for organized groups within Catholic life.
The Holy Year continues through events scheduled across the coming months; whether the Vatican will clarify its calendar practices or issue guidance on similar listings remains to be seen.