https://www.newwaysministry.org/2025/05/19/pope-leo-wants-diversity-in-unity-peruvian-lgbtq-leaders-say-he-has-good-experience/
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Pope Leo Wants Diversity in Unity. Peruvian LGBTQ+ Leaders Say He Has Good Experience.
May 19, 2025/0 Comments (https://www.newwaysministry.org/2025/05/19/pope-leo-wants-diversity-in-unity-peruvian-lgbtq-leaders-say-he-has-good-experience/#respond)/in Pope Leo XIV (https://www.newwaysministry.org/category/pope-leo-xiv/) /by Jeromiah Taylor (https://www.newwaysministry.org/author/jeromiah-taylornewwaysministry-org/)
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Pope Leo XIV offering his homily at his inauguration Mass.
Pope Leo XIV was officially inaugurated yesterday as the 267th pope. In his homily, the new pontiff expressed the goal of unity in the church, but not at the expense of differences. He said:
“The Apostle Peter . . . . is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to walk alongside them, for all of us are ‘living stones’ (1 Pet 2:5), called through our baptism to build God’s house in fraternal communion, in the harmony of the Spirit, in the coexistence of diversity. In the words of St. Augustine: ‘The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbor’ (Serm. 359,9).
“Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world….
“….We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.”
Last week The Washington Blade reported responses to Leo’s papal election from several notable LGBTQ+ Peruvians who knew of him and his ministry when he served as bishop of the Chiclayo, Peru. The themes of diversity and unity were present in many of their responses, as they expressed optimism for Leo’s papacy.
George Hale(https://i0.wp.com/www.newwaysministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/George_Escritorio_Color-100-705x385-1.jpg?resize=388%2C212&ssl=1)
, director of finance and institutional development at Promsex, a feminist sɛҳuąƖ advocacy group that is based in Lima, emphasized Leo’s demonstrated commitment to synodality and his leadership record in Peru as encouraging signs:
“Leo XIV is deeply familiar with inequality, abuses of power, popular religiosity, and the pain of a society scarred by classism and exclusion. His support for victims of the Sodalitium scandal showed a courageous figure willing to listen when others remained silent.”
Hale characterized the Church’s role in advancing LGBTQ+ justice as one of moderating its rhetoric, rather than explicitly endorsing particular measures:
“He (Leo) doesn’t appear to be a hostile figure. But he’s not pushing for radical reform either. He won’t lead the fight for same-sex marriage or trans rights. But his more humane tone — his closeness to those on the margins — can help de-escalate hate speech, especially in a country like ours.”
Susel Paredes(https://www.newwaysministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Susel-Paredes.avif)
Peruvian Congresswoman Susel Paredes, a lesbian, concurred with Hale’s assessments of Leo and of the Church’s role in civil debates about LGBTQ+ issues:
“There are very conservative factions within the church, outright enemies of our rights. But there’s also space for love of neighbor, as Jesus taught. Even if Pope Leo XIV were to chart a path toward full inclusion of LGBTQ people, resistance would remain. These things don’t change overnight …
“Pope Francis spoke of a church where ‘everyone, everyone, everyone’ walks together without distinction. Leo XIV was already part of that vision when he worked in some of Peru’s poorest areas. That gives us hope and reason to watch his papacy with expectation …
“Rights are granted by laws, and the separation of church and state must remain fundamental. That’s where progress happens, in secular legislation …
“Yes — it’s a breath of fresh air to have a pope who doesn’t slam the door shut, who has walked with Peru’s most excluded. That gives us encouragement to keep going.”
Alberto de Belaund(https://i0.wp.com/www.newwaysministry.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/De-Belaunde.jpg?resize=378%2C208&ssl=1)
Former Congressman Alberto de Belaund, who the Blade called one of Peru’s “few openly-gαy political figures,” also testified to Leo’s synodal focus, and his intellectual and pastoral capacities. De Belaund cited Leo’s tenure on the university assembly at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru:
“Unlike other pontifical universities, the PUCP is progressive and diverse. Monsignor [Bishop] Prevost always demonstrated a remarkable ability to dialogue and showed respect for differing views. That speaks volumes about both his intellectual and pastoral approach.”
De Belaunde reiterated the enormous impact that rhetorical shifts from hierarchs can have in deeply Catholic countries where LGBTQ+ people are legally discriminated against:
“Sometimes, even just a change in tone makes a difference. I grew up under the influence of Pope John Paul II and Bishop Cipriani, both known for confrontational rhetoric. When the pope says things like ‘Who am I to judge?’ — it doesn’t change doctrine, but it humanizes the discourse. And that matters.”
—Jeromiah Taylor, New Ways Ministry, May 19, 2025
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