The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, spent five days at the festival in Lisbon on the occasion of World Youth Day. At yesterday's closing in the park by the river, he held a large mass attended by about 1,5 million people.
The heat didn't stop many worshipers from sleeping outside after the vigil on Saturday night and hearing the Pope's "I have a dream" speech, which was primarily about young people and peace in the world. During the visit, the pope kept repeating the message that the doors of the Catholic Church are open to everyone, and at one point the young people repeated after him "todos, todos, todos" ("everyone, everyone, everyone").
Returning to Rome last night, the pope was greeted like a rock star, according to the media. While he was still on the plane, he answered questions from journalists. A journalist reminded him of this message about the openness of the church and asked if it also applies to homosexuals who do not have the same rights and are excluded from some sacraments, such as getting married. The Pope confirmed that the church's message of openness includes LGBT people and marginalized groups.
"The church is open to everyone, but there are laws that regulate life inside the church." According to the laws, they cannot participate in some sacraments. That doesn't mean it's closed. "Everybody within the church meets God in their own way," answered the Pope.
God and Jesus love gay Catholics.
Pope Francis' position on the LGBT community and same-sex marriage has been the subject of interest and discussion since he became the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013. Unlike previous Roman Catholic leaders who considered homosexuality a sin and a moral evil, he has always emphasized the importance of treating LGBT people with with respect and love, but that the traditional Catholic teaching that marriage is sacred between a man and a woman is no less important.
"If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?" he said four months after becoming pope.
Further history of the Pope's "softer tone" when it comes to the LGBT community is the declaration at the beginning of the year that homosexuality is not a crime and that laws that criminalize it should be condemned. Then, that God and Jesus still love gay Catholics, that gay people have always existed throughout human history, and that parents should not kick their gay children out of the house.
Before leaving for Lisbon, the pope answered audio messages from young marginalized people on "The Popecast" podcast. A transgender person from Italy joined the podcast and complained that she is being pressured by two identities - one related to the Catholic faith and tradition, and the other being transgender.
The Pope replied that "God loves us as we are, even though we are sinners." This is God's crazy love."
Although he is generally praised as a more tolerant pope toward the LGBT community, some of his moves and statements have drawn criticism, such as when he met with Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis, who revoked a same-sex couple's marriage license in 2015. He also spoke critically of gender theory and called transgender Catholics "a moral problem."
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