In the seaside town of Torvaianica, Italy, a group of transgender migrant women have been gathering in their parish church to offer prayers for Pope Francis, currently hospitalized in Rome for pneumonia. These women, many of whom share a Catholic upbringing in Argentina with the Pope, express thankfulness for his gestures of inclusion towards their marginalized community and hope that this openness endures.
Moira Camila Garnica, aged 47, voiced a common concern: “The biggest fear is that you never know how things will be in the future, should he no longer lead the church, that it might go backwards. We hope that the church will continue with this empathy, continue to be open to everyone, continue to help because sometimes one person can take a big step forward and then others take three steps back.”
A predominantly Latin American group, mostly engaged in sex work, have resided in Italy for years. They found solace and essential resources at the Blessed Immaculate Virgin Church during the harsh COVID-19 lockdowns that hampered their livelihoods. Here, they received food, medicine, and financial assistance, and were encouraged by Rev. Andrea Conocchia to share their stories in letters to the Pope. The Vatican responded not only with financial aid but also facilitated vaccination opportunities and later invited some to a meal with Francis himself.
Carla Segovia, originally from Bolivia, shared how the church’s outreach was a pivotal moment for her community. She said, “In this Covid period, it was important that Pope Francis got inside the mind of transgender women, in the mind of the human beings that we are, and started to treat us like human beings, and that I think is the moment when faith or Christianity could embrace us.” Having left Argentina during its financial crisis over two decades ago, Segovia recalls the struggle for acceptance and her determination to persevere amid adversity.
As the Pope battles illness, she feels compelled to send him support and strength: “We want to inoculate him with this strength that is so crucial – the fact that you need to fight for your life.”
While gender transition remains a contentious topic in many countries, Francis’s papacy stands out for embracing inclusivity, even stating under certain conditions, transgender individuals may be baptized and serve as godparents. The interaction with the parish brought women like Segovia back to the church, providing them a sense of belonging and community once denied.
Garnica expressed how the church reopened doors that long seemed closed due to their gender identity. Another member, known professionally as Minerva, recounted the transformative impact of the parish’s support in their lives during the pandemic: “We had no work, we had no money to buy food. A friend through word of mouth told me, go to the parish and knock, ask for Father Andrea. I came, I knocked, and like never before he opened his arms, he provided a support so big that still today he’s helping us.”
Father Conocchia sees this outreach as perfectly aligned with Pope Francis’s vision of a church reaching those on the margins, reflecting a more compassionate approach to LGBTQ+ issues. “We put the poor back at the center, we put people back at the center, and that’s the Gospel,” he stated. The priest highlighted the importance of breaking down prejudices, acknowledging that individuals within the LGBTQ+ community might have deeper connections with those in church circles than many assume.
For these women, often isolated from their families, this relationship with the church feels like an unexpected moment of grace, filled with dignity and respect. Garnica noted, “A trans girl would have never imagined in her life that she could see the pope receive her, welcome her, and help her.” She emphasized the significance of being recognized and valued within the religious community, despite prevalent societal challenges based on nationality and gender identity.
Minerva shared her past as a catechist in Peru and her painful exclusion because of her identity. Now, under a picture of Francis, she rehearses “Amazing Grace” in Spanish, hoping to join the choir and reinforce her place within the church. “I am church – not part of the church, I am church because each one of us is church,” she affirmed, embodying the spirit of inclusion and faith that this community hopes the church will continue to embrace.
