Editor’s note: This historic conference, described here by one of its organizers, was also covered in Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian Bishops Conference. Further coverage (along with presentations from participants like Gherardo Gambelli, the Archbishop of Florence, can be found at Progetto Gionata. The Secretary of the Society of Jesus, Antoine Verhuel, SJ, welcomed participants to the meeting in the Jesuit headquarters in Rome. Read the original Italian here.
On Friday, September 4, almost a year after the major Jubilee celebration of LGBTQ Christian associations in Rome, the National Conference of pastoral ministers working with LGBTQ people in Italy was held in the central auditorium (aula) of the General Curia of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).
About 200 people attended, the majority of them priests, including ten bishops who are directly involved in this pastoral ministry in their dioceses. The bishop responsible for this ministry on behalf of the Italian bishops conveyed the personal greetings of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference.
During the morning session, the assembly heard presentations on the “good practices” developed in four Italian dioceses, introduced by the diocesan bishops of Florence, Bari, Cremona and Chiavari. In these dioceses – as in others across Italy – pastoral ministry with LGBTQ people is part of ordinary diocesan pastoral ministry and involves various diocesan structures and initiatives, with a particular commitment to the formation of pastoral workers, especially priests.
The Rev. Luca Lunardon, a moral theologian and author of a book on LGBTQ people,, then revisited the conclusions of Study Group 9 of the Synod of Bishops, which dealt with “emerging issues.” He explained how the “principle of pastorality,” explored in depth by that working group, can help both the universal church and local churches grow in their ability to understand, welcome and integrate new realities that present unprecedented anthropological and theological challenges, so that the Gospel may continue to speak to the women and men of today.
With its vitality and passion, pastoral ministry with LGBTQ people is becoming an important part of the Italian church’s commitment to the new evangelization.
The morning session concluded with Bishop Giampaolo Dianin, the Italian Bishops’ Conference official responsible for pastoral ministry with LGBTQ people. On behalf of the leadership of the Italian bishops, Dianin will chair a working group tasked with developing guidelines for pastoral ministry with LGBTQ people.
In the afternoon, the national leaders of several of Italy’s main Catholic associations and movements – AGESCI [Italian Catholic Scouts], ACI [Italian Catholic Action], FUCI [Italian Catholic University Federation], CLC [Christian Life Community] and the Focolare Movement – described how their organizations seek to respond pastorally to LGBTQ people.
Amid difficulties and delays, but also encouraging experiences and positive decisions, they described a long journey from overcoming discrimination toward the recognition and full integration of LGBTQ people into formation programs, service roles within their groups and their apostolic work.
Time was also devoted to discussion in six groups organized by geographic area. This allowed the pastoral workers, priests and bishops present to become more directly acquainted with one another and to build useful and effective connections and pastoral collaborations. An intense, candid and genuine plenary discussion brought the day to a close, with further meetings planned for the future.
The entire event was very intense and significant. Particularly important was the opportunity to see and hear bishops describe their own personal pastoral attention to LGBTQ people and the work of their collaborators to integrate LGBTQ people into the ordinary pastoral life of their dioceses.
With its vitality and passion, pastoral ministry with LGBTQ people is becoming an important part of the Italian Church’s commitment to the new evangelization.
