Trans women's presence at the Vatican and Pope Francis' meeting with them

A group of transgender women arrived at the Vatican and were met by the world's Catholic leader, Pope Francis.

Last Sunday, November 19, 200 poor and homeless people attended a luncheon at the Vatican, including two trans women of Argentine descent, one of whom appeared at the table opposite the Pope during lunch, and the other, a sex worker, thanked the Pope for his treatment of them.

The presence of trans people at this week's lunch follows a shift in attitudes towards the trans community in the Catholic Church last week, which allows them to be baptized and to be godparents or witnesses at weddings. Transgender people, including those who have undergone hormone replacement therapy or sex reassignment surgery, can be baptized under the same conditions as other believers if there is no risk of public scandal or deviation, according to a statement released by the Vatican.

New Ways Ministry, a Catholic organization dedicated to building relationships between the Catholic Church and the LGBTQ+ community, wrote last month that “the Vatican’s affirmation that transgender people should be welcomed into the sacred life of the Church demonstrates Pope Francis’ commitment to issues related to the LGBTQ+ community.”