Honoring the Legacy of Pope Francis

CONTACT: hello@dignityphila.org

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Dear Dignity Philadelphia Community,

We join Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a figure whose papacy has profoundly shaped the Church in our time. 

By all accounts, Pope Francis was a complicated and courageous shepherd. His leadership broke barriers in ways we had not seen before: allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, affirming the baptism of transgender people, and taking steps to hold anti-LGBTQ leaders accountable within the Church. These were not just symbolic gestures—they were life-affirming acknowledgements of dignity for many of us who have long been on the margins. By leading the Church with a spirit of humility and openness, Pope Francis made it possible to have new conversations and imagine new possibilities for the future of the Church by prioritizing mercy, understanding, and care. 

And yet, his papacy also reminds us how far we still have to go. Moments of progress were sometimes overshadowed by words or actions that caused pain, including reports of harmful language that contradicted his message of inclusion. Many of these clearly progressive measures were accompanied by caveats: same-sex unions could be blessed, but should not be mistaken for marriage; transgender individuals could be baptized, but only on a “case-by-case” basis. These kinds of conditional acceptances send a message that inclusion must be earned, that assimilation is a prerequisite for belonging, and that there are still boundaries around what forms of queerness the Church finds acceptable.

Still, Pope Francis helped move the Church towards the margins, where Christ has always dwelled, among the poor, the displaced, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women long excluded from leadership. Additionally, Pope Francis’s unwavering advocacy for the environment and the urgency with which he called for an end to war and violence were vital reminders of humanity’s responsibility to care for all of God’s creation. His path to the papacy was itself an unexpected one, echoing the Gospel’s truth that “the last will be first”. We hope that his memory continues to make positive change possible in the Church and the world, and that he will serve as a model for remaining open to the surprises God has in store for us when we choose to act with courage and love.  

“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” – Pope Francis

We invite you to take a moment to reflect on the legacy of Pope Francis and what the role of the papacy means to you. If you feel moved to share your thoughts, please email your reflection to newsletter@dignityphila.org. Space permitting, submissions will be included in the next Dignity Philadelphia newsletter.

With care and community,

Dignity Philadelphia

Written by Kaeden Carroll and J.D. Stone on behalf of the Board of Dignity Philadelphia.

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Dignity Philadelphia

Dignity Philadelphia, a chapter of DignityUSA, is a nonprofit organization serving Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ Catholic community. Dignity Philadelphia has been deeply involved in LGBTQ+ activism throughout its 50+ year history, with particular focus on encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics to live wholly without sacrificing their spirituality or romantic partnerships. Today, Dignity Philadelphia is a diverse faith community that holds weekly services in the Gayborhood neighborhood of Philadelphia that include married women priests and lay people. 

Learn more at www.dignityphila.org and www.dignityusa.org