Over 1,400 LGBTQ+ Catholics from 20 countries are participating in the Vatican's first officially recognized LGBTQ+ pilgrimage to Rome. This historic event includes prayer vigils and masses, marking a significant moment during the Vatican's Jubilee Year, despite no private audience with Pope Leo XIV.

• 1,400 pilgrims, adorned in rainbow attire, entered St. Peter’s Basilica through the Holy Door, a symbol of reconciliation opened only once every 25 years.
• New Ways Ministry, an advocacy group, highlighted the welcoming reception from Church institutions, underscoring a shift in engagement.
• The pilgrimage follows Pope Francis's 2023 decree allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, a move that stirred controversy, particularly among conservative Catholics in Africa.