Vatican official welcomes LGBT people to World Meeting of Families

Source: Vatican News/New Ways Ministry

A key Vatican official has affirmed that LGBT people will be welcomed at the World Meeting of Families occurring later this month, but any specific mention of LGBT issues is so far absent from the program.

The tenth World Meeting of Families will be held in Rome on June 22-26, 2022. The theme this year is 'Family love: vocation and a path to holiness.' According to Vatican News, one of the gathering's leaders offered a welcome to LGBT people and their families during a Vatican press conference:

"Among those participating in the [press conference] was Professor Gabriella Gambino, Undersecretary at the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. . . Asked about participation by LGBT families, Professor Gambino said that in the spirit of Amoris laetitia it was important to accompany everyone with mercy and welcome towards the love of the Father, and that all families need to feel accompanied by the Church."

In keeping with Pope Francis' emphasis of synodality, Dr Gambino said this gathering would be different from previous World Meetings of Families by focusing on encounter rather than academic theology.

Dr Gambino continued: "The aim is to develop the theme chosen by the Pope, taking into account some strong indications emerging from Amoris laetitia, a text that presents itself with very clear programmatic lines for the possible developments of family pastoral care in the coming years."

"The Congress will be built around five main conferences on a number of fundamental themes, such as difficulties of families in today's societies; the preparation of couples for married life; and some situations of 'existential periphery' within families."