The Vatican has included in its official online calendar for the Catholic Jubilee year an event organized by representatives The LGBT community, professing Catholicism, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
This is an unusual sign of the openness of the Holy See to the gay community, the agency commented.
The Italian organization "La tenda di Gionata" ("La Tenda di Gionata") plans to hold a pilgrimage in September, one of hundreds of events scheduled for next year. In connection with the Jubilee year, Rome is expected to be visited by 32 million people. tourists.
"La tenda di Gionata" pointed out that the purpose of the pilgrimage is to promote the acceptance of the representatives of the LGBT community in the Catholic Church. The organization has also planned a prayer vigil in a local parish in Rome, followed by a visit to St. Peter's Basilica.
A representative of the Holy See told Reuters that the inclusion of this event in the calendar does not mean that the Vatican supports the initiatives of "La tenda di Gionata" and emphasized that in this case it is not a matter of "sponsored activity".
Rome is the world center of the Catholic jubilee event Holy Year, which begins on December 24 and continues until January 6, 2026. Such anniversaries usually fall once every 25 years.
Pope Francis is credited with leading the Catholic Church toward a more welcoming approach to the LGBT community and allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.