When Religion Embraces LGBTQ+ People: Faith and Inclusion in a Changing World
Pope Francis has criticized laws that criminalize same-sex relationships, calling them "unjust."
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Pope Francis criticized laws concerning sexual orientation that criminalize same-sex relationships, calling them "unjust." He said that God loves all his children just as they are, and he urged Catholic bishops who support these laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the Church.
Reforming outdated laws must move forward
"Being homosexual is not a crime," Pope Francis said during an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. The Pope acknowledged that Catholic bishops in some parts of the world support laws that punish people with a same-sex orientation or that discriminate against the LGBTQ community, and he himself spoke of the issue in terms of "morality and sin." However, he said such attitudes come from cultural backgrounds, and that bishops in particular need to change some of their attitudes to adapt to today's society.
"These bishops must undergo a process of change toward tenderness," the Pope said, adding that they should show "tenderness and compassion, as God has for each and every one of us."
Currently, 67 countries around the world criminalize consensual sexual relationships between people of the same sex, and 11 of them impose penalties as severe as the death penalty for homosexual people, according to a report by The Human Dignity Trust, which works to end such laws. Experts say that even when these laws are not enforced, they still contribute to harassment and stigma.
Direct and indirect violence against LGBTQ people
In more than ten U.S. states, laws against same-sex relations remain on the books, even though a 2003 Supreme Court ruling declared such laws unconstitutional. Gay rights advocates say these old-fashioned laws are used to harass homosexual people, and they point to newer laws such as Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, which prohibits teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. They see this as evidence of a continuing effort to marginalize LGBTQ people and to deny society a fuller understanding of them.
The United Nations has called for an immediate end to laws that punish homosexuality, saying these laws violate the rights to privacy and to freedom from discrimination, and that they breach countries' obligations under international law to protect the human rights of everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In declaring these laws "unjust," Francis said the Catholic Church can help, and should work, to end them. "It must be done this way, it must be done that way," he said. Francis cited the teaching of the Catholic Church that LGBTQ people must be welcomed and respected, and should not be marginalized or discriminated against.
"We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are, and honors the strength with which each of us fights for our dignity," Francis told the AP at the Vatican hotel where he lives.
Such laws are common across Africa and the Middle East and date back to British colonial times, or were inspired by Islamic law. Some Catholic bishops strongly uphold them as consistent with Vatican teaching, which holds that homosexual activity is "intrinsically disordered," while others call for them to be abolished as a violation of basic human dignity.
A statement against criminalizing people with a same-sex orientation
In 2019, Francis had been expected to issue a statement opposing the criminalization of homosexuality during a meeting with a group of human rights advocates who research the effects of such laws and of so-called "conversion therapy"—attempts to force homosexual people back into the male-female roles that others expect of them.
Although in the end the Pope did not meet with those groups, he met instead with the Vatican's number two official, who affirmed "the dignity of every human being and opposition to all forms of violence." On Tuesday, Francis said there must be a distinction between crime and sin when it comes to being homosexual.
"Being homosexual is not a crime," he said. "It can be a sin, depending on the context, but it is not a crime. First, let's distinguish between sin and crime." He added, "It is also a sin to lack charity toward one another."
Catholic teaching holds that homosexual people must be treated with respect, and Francis has not changed that teaching. But he has made outreach to the LGBTQ community a hallmark of his papacy, beginning with his famous 2013 declaration, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about a priest said to be gay. Francis has continued his ministry of consistent, open engagement with the gay and transgender communities.
Legal protection for same-sex couples
As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he favored granting legal protections to same-sex couples rather than supporting same-sex marriage, which Catholic doctrine forbids. Even so, Francis was criticized by LGBTQ+ Catholics over a 2021 directive from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which stated that the Church cannot bless same-sex couples "because God cannot bless sin."
In 2008, the Vatican declined to sign a United Nations declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality, complaining that the text went beyond its original scope and included language on sexual orientation and gender identity that it found problematic. In its statement at the time, the Vatican did call on countries to avoid "unjust discrimination" against gay people and to end penalties against them.
This interview shows that even religious institutions must adapt to the times. Although the view that homosexuality is a sin still persists, when it comes to the structure of the law it is now clear that being homosexual is "not a crime." The author believes that in the years ahead, the lines of faith and sexual orientation will move closer together and grow more accommodating of one another, as they should.
Verified references
Links and relevance to the article’s main topic were reviewed on 13 August 2026. Each source supports only the scope stated in the original document and does not replace personalised medical, legal, or service advice.
- OHCHR: LGBT rights fact sheet Accessed 13 August 2026
