In a first for the Vatican, more than a thousand LGBTQ Catholics and their supporters are this weekend holding a pilgrimage, in what they are promoting as an important sign of diversity in the Church.

The gathering of some 1,400 people from around 20 countries was part of the Catholic Church's Jubilee holy year. It was organised by La Tenda di Gionata (The Tent of Jonathon), an Italian association lobbying for greater inclusivity among the faithful.

While those taking part did not have a private audience scheduled with Pope Leo XIV this is the first time such a pilgrimage has featured on the official Jubilee programme, although LGBTQ groups have gone to the Vatican before.

Yveline Behets, a 68-year-old transgender woman from Brussels, walked 130 kilometres (80 miles) with another 30 LGB

See Full Page