April 21, 2025. DignityUSA joins Catholics and others worldwide in mourning Pope Francis's death. His impact on the lives and faith of LGBTQ+ Catholics, our family members, and friends is unparalleled among church leaders.

“We honor Pope Francis’ faithful and compassionate leadership and service to our church and the world,” said Meli Barber, President of DignityUSA. “His pastoral approach, concern for the planet, and strong commitment to the Gospel will have lasting impacts on our church and the world.

“We also recognize that Pope Francis has raised awareness of LGBTQ+ issues in our church in truly unprecedented ways. He spoke about us using our own terms and made a point of being seen meeting with LGBTQ+ people frequently. This sent a message of recognition and inclusion we never experienced from the Vatican before,” said Barber.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, DignityUSA Executive Director, met Pope Francis in October 2023. “I never expected I’d have a chance to represent DignityUSA and the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics in a meeting with a pontiff,” said Duddy-Burke. “I had the chance to thank him for his statement that the criminalization of our identities and relationships had to stop and to urge him to press for its implementation globally. I shared stories of LGBTQ+ people who had been harmed by church teachings or when pastoral care was refused. I told him how being part of a worldwide community of LGBTQ+ Catholics gave me a better sense of how faith is lived out in many cultures. He said our work was important and that we must keep moving forward. It as a moment that meant so much to people around the United States and in many other countries.”

DignityUSA also acknowledged that Pope Francis’ legacy on LGBTQ+ issues is complicated. “Even with the recognition of so many positive words and actions, church teachings and even some recent Vatican documents remain problematic,” said Duddy-Burke “Many LGBTQ+ people and families welcomed the pronouncement that same-sex couples can be blessed by priests and allowing transgender people to be baptized and to serve as godparents. However, Dignitas Infinita’s equating transgender peoples’ need to embrace their gender with evils like poverty and sexual abuse and failing to change catechetical teachings that say being gay is inconsistent with God’s plan for humanity continue to lead to discrimination and even violence.”

Barber added, “Many of us had high hopes that some positive changes around LGBTQ+ teachings would come from the worldwide Synod. That has not happened as of yet. We are waiting for the report from the working group charged with addressing controversial issues. But the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues is now part of the mainstream of our church. LGBTQ+ Catholics, our family members, friends, fellow Catholics, and frontline ministers all spoke openly about our lives, our gifts, the discrimination we have faced, and the depth of our faith. This cannot be erased.”

DignityUSA is hopeful that the next Pope will continue to affirm LGBTQ+ people as part of the Catholic church and deserving of affirming, respectful pastoral care. This group and many others worldwide will keep pressing for full inclusion and equality.

May Pope Francis rest in peace.

DignityUSA is the world’s oldest organization of Catholics working for justice, equality, and full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our church and society. Since early 1969, it has provided spiritual community, pastoral care, advocacy, and educational outreach to support these goals.