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Pope Leo XIV has received the American Jesuit priest Fr James Martin SJ in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace, according to the Holy See Press Office Bulletin.
The meeting took place during Fr Martin’s visit to Rome in connection with a Jubilee pilgrimage organised by his LGBT ministry, Outreach. Fr Martin SJ, who serves as editor-at-large of America magazine, made the encounter public on X shortly afterwards.
“Dear friends: I was honoured and grateful to meet with the Holy Father @Pontifex this morning in an audience in the Apostolic Palace, and moved to hear the same message I heard from Pope Francis on LGBTQ Catholics, which is one of openness and welcome,” he wrote on X. “I found Pope Leo to be serene, joyful, and encouraging. For me, it was a deeply consoling meeting. Please pray for the Holy Father!”
Although details of the latest audience were not disclosed by the Vatican beyond its formal announcement, Fr Martin’s own account suggested the Pope reaffirmed a pastoral and progressive approach towards LGBT Catholics. The priest has long been an advocate for pastoral outreach to Catholics who identify as LGBT, a role which has brought him international recognition as well as controversy.
During the recent Synod on Synodality in Rome, Fr Martin shared a table with the then Cardinal Robert Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and later praised the future Pope’s leadership style. Fr Martin has often spoken favourably of senior Church figures whom he sees as embodying a spirit of dialogue and openness.
He has also been a polarising figure within the Church, with critics accusing him of sowing confusion about Catholic teaching on human sexuality. His 2017 book Building a Bridge, which urged closer dialogue between the Church and LGBT Catholics, drew praise from some but also sharp criticism from others, who said it risked downplaying moral doctrine.
His participation in events organised by LGBT advocacy groups has further fuelled debate. While supporters see him as offering pastoral accompaniment to Catholics who feel excluded, critics argue that his interventions sometimes blur the line between pastoral care and doctrinal clarity. Fr Martin has repeatedly stated that he upholds the Catechism of the Catholic Church and that his ministry is aimed at helping LGBT Catholics feel welcomed within the life of the Church.
