Hundreds of Catholic faithful from LGBTQ+ communities around the globe gathered at a church in Rome Friday night for a vigil ahead of their jubilee at the Vatican.

The Holy Year pilgrimage of LGBTQ+ Catholics to the Vatican is a sign of continued acceptance of their community in this new pontificate.

"We're making a piece of history. This is the first time that something like this has happened in the Church,” said Alessandra Bialetti, who stood at the back of the packed church in the center of Rome.

“Our happiness is the joy of being truly recognized within the Church as people without labels, without cataloguing," added Bialetti.

The event began with a group of faithful who had followed the ancient pilgrim’s Francigena road to Rome carrying a rainbow painted flag down the central aisle to the altar.

The jubilee is significant because it shows a strong sign of continuity with Pope Francis, who more than any of his predecessors worked to make the Catholic Church a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ Catholics.

From his 2013 quip, “Who am I to judge?” about a purportedly gay priest, to his 2023 comment to The Associated Press that “Being homosexual is not a crime,” Francis distinguished himself with his message of welcome.

Leo’s position on LGBTQ+ Catholics had been something of a question.

Soon after he was elected in May, remarks by the former Rev. Robert Prevost surfaced in which the then-head of the Augustinian religious order made comments critical of the “homosexual lifestyle” and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships that conflicted with Catholic doctrine.

When he became a cardinal in 2023, Catholic News Service asked Prevost if his views had changed. He acknowledged Francis’ call for a more inclusive church, saying Francis “made it very clear that he doesn’t want people to be excluded simply on the basis of choices that they make, whether it be lifestyle, work, way to dress, or whatever.”

But Prevost then underlined that doctrine had not changed, in line with Francis. “And people haven’t said yet (that) we’re looking for that kind of change,” Prevost said. “But we are looking to be more welcoming and more open and to say all people are welcome in the church.”

The pilgrimage is not officially sponsored by the Vatican, but it is listed on the Vatican’s calendar of Holy Year events. Vatican officials say that such a listing doesn’t signify endorsement, but is merely a help to those groups that wish to organize pilgrimages and walk through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

AP Video shot by Isaia Montelione