Gender advocates mourn loss of progressive, inclusive Pope Francis

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Pope Francis is remembered for his 'Who am I to judge?' line on the LGBTQ+ community, which set the tone of his inclusive leadership of the Catholic Church

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino gender equality advocates, long shunned by the conservative wing of the Catholic Church, mourned the death of Pope Francis, who was known for his progressive stance and openness toward the queer community.

Francis died on Monday, April 21, of stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiovascular collapse. It was the day after Easter Sunday, the conclusion of the global Catholic observation of Holy Week. (LIVE UPDATES: Death of Pope Francis)

The advocates particularly remember Francis’ famous “Who am I to judge?” line, which the Pope uttered during his first year of papacy when asked about his thoughts on the LGBTQ+ community. It set the tone in his 13-year leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

“Throughout his papacy, Francis was known to advocate for progressive yet controversial stances, especially between the relationship of the Church and LGBTQ+ community, adopting a more accommodating tone to LGBTQ+ topics than his predecessors,” said progressive LGBTQ+ rights group Bahaghari in a statement on Monday.

Bataan 1st District Representative and trans woman Geraldine Roman, meanwhile, said Pope Francis was a symbol of love, equality, and compassion for all — “especially the LGBTQ community.”

“Ang matatag niyang pahayag na ‘Who am I to judge?’ ay naging hudyat ng pag-asa para sa milyong kapatid nating matagal nang naghahangad ng pagtanggap at pagkakapantay-pantay. Siya ang nagsilbing paalala na ang lahat ay may lugar sa simbahan, sa lipunan, at sa mata ng Diyos,” said Roman in a statement on Monday.

(His bold “Who am I to judge?” statement was a signal of hope to our millions of brothers and sisters who have long sought acceptance and equality. He served as a reminder that everyone has a place in the Church, in society, and in the eyes of God.)

List of progressive moves

Bahaghari noted how, during public outings, the Pope made clear that the LGBTQ+ community must be welcomed and accepted, and denounced laws criminalizing homosexuality.

Francis is remembered as the Pope who was accepting towards same-sex couples. While he stood by the Church’s stand of marriage only being between a man and a woman, in October 2020, the Pope voiced support for allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.

In November 2023, the Pope said transgender people can be baptized as Catholics and serve as godparents. The following month, he approved blessings for same-sex couples which was heavily criticized by some Church members. Despite the pushback from his subordinates, the Pope defended his stance.

The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus on Tuesday, April 22, said they remember the Pope for being humble and inclusive.

“He has taken steps to reform an institution’s stance towards LGBTQIA+ people — from indifference and condemnation, to being welcoming. Inspired by his legacy, we shall always be in solidarity with those in the margins of society,” the group said in a statement.

Bahaghari said they were hopeful that Francis’ advocacies in his papacy would become “the spark of significant discussions for a more inclusive society and more welcoming Church, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

“May this reignite our compassion towards the poor and the marginalized, reaffirm our call for human rights, and work towards achieving a world based on love, justice, and equality,” they added.

Pope Francis also put women in key leadership positions in the Church such as Sister Simona Brambilla, though dodging the issue of women clergy. – Rappler.com