St. Peter’s Basilica

Watchdog Alert: LGBTQ+ Catholics Join Jubilee Pilgrimage, But…

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According to LGBTQ+ Nation, “In a historic first this weekend, LGBTQ+ Catholics joined the church’s Jubilee Year pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, a once-every-25-year ritual that grants a “plenary indulgence” to participants.”

Some Mixed Signals and Leadership

The pilgrimage was included in the Vatican’s official Jubilee calendar, sparking a notable shift in visibility for LGBTQ+ Catholics—but the Vatican continued to clarify that the inclusion did not equal formal endorsement.

“While the LGBTQ+ pilgrimage is not explicitly endorsed by the Vatican — nor will participants receive a dedicated papal audience as other groups have — organizers and attendees say the event nevertheless represents a historic form of ecclesial engagement with a long-marginalized group of Catholics.” – National Catholic Register

Pope Leo XIV did not publicly acknowledge the group during Jubilee events but privately gave his blessing for Bishop Savino to conduct the Mass, signaling a discreet but meaningful continuity of Pope Francis’s inclusive approach.

“Pope Leo XIV celebrated a special Jubilee audience Saturday at the Vatican for all pilgrim groups in Rome this weekend, but made no special mention of the LGBTQ+ Catholics.” – Coeur d’Alene Press

Some Pushback and Continued Tensions

There were also institutional frictions—initial removal of the pilgrimage from the Jubilee calendar, followed by reinstatement, triggered by media leaks and internal disagreements over how public the recognition should be.

Some conservative voices sharply criticized the pilgrimage. Roberto de Mattei of the Lepanto Foundation labeled it “provocative and irreverent,” questioning whether it contradicted Church teachings on sin and redemption.

“The participants sparked outrage among some Catholics, who took note of the placards and T-shirts carrying slogans (in at least one case, crudely obscene) critical of Church teaching on sexuality, and the irreverent behavior of activists.” – Catholic Culture

Choosing A New Pope – Biblically Based?

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Bible Rebel continues to keep a watchdog’s eye on news and events from the world of churchianity. In this article, we take a look at the process of choosing a new Pope, which is based on Roman Catholic ceremony and tradition – not scripture.

Papal Ceremonies and Biblical Doctrine

While the Catholic Church bases its teachings on scripture, many papal ceremonies are rooted in tradition rather than biblical doctrine. The conclave, the papal coronation, and the rituals surrounding the election are not explicitly found in the Bible. Instead, they evolved over centuries as part of the Church’s governance structure.

Critics argue that certain practices—such as the vesting of the Pope in elaborate robes and the use of Latin in official ceremonies—reflect historical customs rather than biblical mandates. However, the Church maintains that these traditions uphold continuity and reverence within Catholicism.

The selection of a new Pope is a momentous event, steeped in history and ritual. While the process is not biblically mandated, it remains a defining aspect of Catholic tradition.

The Conclave Process

The election of a new Pope follows a centuries-old tradition rooted in secrecy and ritual. When a Pope passes away or resigns, the College of Cardinals—a body of senior Catholic officials—gathers in Vatican City to elect his successor in a process known as a conclave.

The conclave typically begins 15 to 20 days after the Pope’s death. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, with the number of electors capped at 120. The process takes place in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy before casting their votes.

Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot, which is then placed in a ceremonial urn. The votes are counted, and if no candidate secures a two-thirds majority, the process repeats until a consensus is reached. After each round, the ballots are burned, producing either black smoke (indicating no decision) or white smoke (signaling the election of a new Pope).

Once elected, the new Pope is introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he delivers his first blessing.