LGBTQ+ Catholics tentatively welcome new pope despite anti-gay comments: ‘Opinions can change’

LGBTQ+ Catholic groups have tentatively welcomed new pope Robert Prevost – Pope Leo XIV – as head of the Catholic Church after he previously expressed anti-gay views.

Chicago-born Prevost, who holds dual American and Peruvian citizenship, is the first American to hold the role of Pope. The 69-year-old was elected on Thursday (8 May) after a two-day papal conclave following the death of 88-year-old Pope Francis in April.

Francis left behind an erratic legacy on his support for the LGBTQ+ community but he was responsible for softening the church’s language on queer people compared to his predecessors, such as with his famous “who am I to judge?” statement.

Although Prevost was not considered a frontrunner to be elected as Pope and does not have an extensive public record of

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