Pope Francis: A Source of Hope for the LGBT+ Community in Africa

Pope Francis has been seen as a significant ally by many African queer activists and LGBT+ individuals, who found support and understanding in his declarations. This is particularly meaningful in Africa, a continent with a rapidly growing Catholic population, where religion is often used by politicians and church leaders to promote anti-LGBT+ sentiment—frequently labelling queer identities as “un-African” and “ungodly.” His stance was celebrated by many as a milestone that could pave the way for dialogue between the Catholic Church and the LGBT+ community in Africa.

“Pope Francis is a very progressive person. When he was in Uganda, he did not say anything discriminatory towards any group or the LGBT+ community. For us in Uganda, we are not fighting for same-sex marriage or calling for same-sex unions,” said prominent Ugandan human rights defender Frank Mugisha on Facebook in 2020, after the Pope expressed his support for civil unions for same-sex couples.

To many African activists, the Pope represented a symbol of hope and a powerful voice for justice and inclusion. With the criminalisation of LGBT+ identities rising across the continent, and Ghana’s anti-LGBT+ bill still pending, queer individuals in Ghana shared their experiences and expressed gratitude for the Pope’s progressive stance—particularly his opposition to violence and discrimination. “We shared our experiences as queer individuals in Ghana and expressed gratitude to the Pope for his progressive stance, especially his opposition to violence and discrimination,” said Ebenezer Peegah from Ghana on X (formerly Twitter), after meeting Pope Francis last year.

The Pope’s statements raised expectations for LGBT+ people globally—many of whom have long felt disheartened by the Catholic Church’s limited progress on inclusion and acceptance. While some see him not as a revolutionary, but as a transitional leader, his contribution remains deeply meaningful for many.

“What may seem like a small step to some can be exactly what others need,” added Mugisha in a video. “For us in Uganda’s LGBT community, it is about survival, about acceptance, and about being who you are. So for the Pope to come out in support of same-sex unions is very progressive—it means a lot to us. We believe the Catholic Church will embrace this and accept LGBT+ persons, especially in Uganda.”

Last year, a delegation from Gay Christian Africa was granted the opportunity to greet Pope Francis during a general audience in May, following a letter sent by African LGBT+ Christians. In his response, the Pope offered words of encouragement and spiritual solidarity:

“Dear brothers and sisters, thank you very much for your e-mail, thank you for your work and prayers. I am close to you and pray for you. Please do the same for me. May the Lord bless you.”

And then, just two weeks before we publicly launched the Gay Christian Africa initiative, and the day after my birthday, I was given an unforgettable gift wrapped in the surreal moment of meeting the Pope himself. I sat near the back, deliberately choosing a spot where I could observe everything without distraction. To my surprise, Pope Francis decided to greet each one of us individually. My heart raced with thoughts of what I should say. I wanted to tell him about Gay Christian Africa, about the dreams and struggles of our community—but in that moment, I decided to simply be present. When my turn came, I was struck by his deep and welcoming smile. Suddenly, I was no longer meeting the "Pope" as I had imagined him, but a fellow human being. I said to him, “Thank you for this—it’s my best gift, since yesterday was my birthday.” He looked at me, surprised, and replied, “Ah, really?” Then, turning to his left, he handed me a rosary as a gift. Moved by his kindness, I asked if I could hug him. He naturally accepted—and just like that, I broke protocol. In that few seconds hug I expressed everything at heart and in mind.

Following his passing, one individual who had written to the Pope posted a tribute on their personal account:

“No one is forgotten in your heart—the shepherd who excludes no one. Rejoice in your encounter with the Creator.”

If Pope Francis’s contribution was a transition, then his death reminds us to become the revolution we long to see in the world. We owe it not only to him, and to ourselves, but also to the safety and wellbeing of our Christian communities and society as a whole.


Adélard Kananira
Trustee