Catholic Church holds conference in Rome on LGBT+ pastoral care

A national conference held in Rome focused on “Good practices in the pastoral care of homosexual and transgender people” brought together nearly 200 pastoral workers from various Italian dioceses and approximately ten bishops. Held at the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, the event aimed to share successful local initiatives rather than debate top-down documents.

Father Gianluca Carrega, coordinator of the LGBT+ ministry for the Archdiocese of Turin, noted that while the Church often starts with excellent principles, implementing them in practice remains a significant challenge. Participants emphasized that progress is being driven by real-world encounters with individuals and families rather than theoretical mandates. Volunteers and clergy reported that many members of the community had previously remained silent about their identities to avoid alienation from the Church, but are now finding spaces for dialogue through the synodal process.