Africa: Why Pope Leon XIV went Silent on LGBTQ reality

On his way back from his first visit to Africa, Pope Leon XIV made a comment that left the LGBTQ community wondering. When asked about blessings for same-sex couples, he acknowledged that there are broader moral and ethical concerns beyond sexuality. “I believe there are much greater and more important issues, such as justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion that would all take priority before that particular issue.”

During his journey across Africa, April 13th -23rd, Pope Leon XIV emphasized a powerful message: peace, justice, and hope. A message that resonates deeply with the continent, home to the fastest-growing Catholic population—now estimated over 288 million people, representing over 20% of the world’s Catholics. There is little doubt that the future of the Catholic Church is closely tied to Africa. Just last year (2025), the Church welcomed over 8 million new members, some of whom are LGBTQ Catholics, whether openly or not.

Gaspard (a pseudonym), a devoted queer Catholic in East Africa, expressed concern about Pope Leon XIV’s views a few days before his visit. “It seems his tone on LGBTQ matter is a setback from his predecessor, Pope Francis,” he said with concern.

In a context where African countries have voted—or are strongly pushing, often on the basis of faith—to criminalize LGBTQ individuals, one might have expected the Pontiff’s visit to send a clear and powerful message on the matter. However, he chose to focus on issues that may seem unrelated at first glance but are in fact deeply connected to the systems that enable such laws. By addressing corruption, justice, and dignity, Pope Leon XIV highlighted the underlying conditions that can foster discrimination. When Pope Francis spoke about these same themes, he was not only addressing general concerns but also touching on the deeper roots of homophobia.

According to an investigation by the British news site openDemocracy, U.S. Christian right groups spent at least $280 million abroad between 2008 and 2019, with around $20 million directed to Africa during that time. How this money was used remains unclear, but the outcomes are visible in the rise of anti-LGBTQ laws and legislative efforts driven by some politicians. The lack of transparency surrounding these funds reflects the very issues Pope Leon pointed to during his visit.

The late Pope Francis’s tone offered hope to many LGBTQ Catholics around the world. However, his stance also drew strong backlash from African bishops and Catholics, particularly when he spoke about blessings for same-sex couples in his document Fiducia Supplicans. Pope Leon might have understood that in today’s deeply polarized Church, African Catholics play a vital role in its future—and that addressing sexuality and LGBTQ issues directly may not be the most effective way to engage them.

Beyond the attention the topic around LGBTQ receives both internationally and locally, one might ask: is it truly a priority for Africa? Too often, LGBTQ issues are used as a scapegoat by politicians to deflect from urgent challenges such as inflection, poverty, unemployment, and lack of justice—issues that affect everyday life for everyone, including LGBTQ individuals. It is difficult to foster hope or ensure safety for LGBTQ people when society as a whole is struggling with instability and/ or insecurity.