Pope Leo XIV this week met with one of the most prominent advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church: Rev. James Martin.

Martin told the Associated Press that Leo intended to continue Francis’s legacy of LGBTQ+ acceptance and that he had the desire to “welcome all people, including LGBTQ+ people.”

The Catholic Church is, of course, riddled with scandals and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. Even Francis’s own legacy was complicated. But he did make public strides to advocate for queer people during his papacy.

Leo’s meeting with Martin signals a shift from his previous stance on queer identity and Catholicism. After the conclave, a video of Leo criticizing how the media promoted same-sex relationships and abortion resurfaced, though his opinions on the matter seemed to change when he became a cardinal in 2023.

We look at how LGBTQ+ Catholics hope the development will give way for further acceptance in the church.