The passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 on Easter Monday, has left a profound impact on many Catholics, notably in the LGBTQ+ community. As his supporters mourn, questions rise about the direction the church will take under a new pope selected in the upcoming May 7 conclave. Many worry that the new leader may not maintain Francis's progressive stance on LGBTQ+ issues, poverty, and immigration, leading to concerns about the future of acceptance within the church. Pagan-Peterson, a Catholic convert who admired Francisâs inclusive approach, articulates this anxiety thoughtfully.
"It's still so hard to actually believe," Pagan-Peterson said, noticing the collective grief of many Catholics for the loss of a pope who championed inclusiveness.
As the May 7 conclave approaches, there's concern within the LGBTQ+ community regarding the potential shift in the church's stance on inclusivity following Pope Francis's legacy.
Pagan-Peterson expressed fear about the future of the LGBTQ+ community within the church, asking, "where does that leave the LGBT community as far as the Catholic church goes?"
Pagan-Peterson recalled Pope Francis's impactful statement, ''If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?''
Collection
[
|
...
]