In a moment that lit up social media faster than white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, two men locked lips in St. Peter’s Square just as Pope Leo XIV was announced — and the cameras caught every glorious second. Their kiss, brief but defiant, sent a bold message of visibility from the very heart of an institution that has long struggled with LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The timing was nothing short of divine. As American-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, stepped onto the balcony as the 267th pontiff, the camera swept across the crowd. Amid the waving flags and hopeful cheers, two men leaned in and kissed — calm, proud, and unbothered. Within hours, the clip went viral, racking up likes, retweets, and declarations of “KINGS” from a cheering queer internet.
One of the men, going by Juan on X/Twitter, confirmed the couple’s identity by posting a photo of them kissing in front of the Vatican — the same clothes, the same love, the same message: we’re here, and we’re not hiding.
A Kiss That Preaches More Than a Sermon
This wasn’t just PDA — it was protest. The Catholic Church may be inching toward reform, but queer people still face exclusion from sacraments, jobs, and even the pews. And while Pope Francis had moments of measured progress — his “Who am I to judge?” still echoing years later — his successor’s track record isn’t as comforting.
Pope Leo XIV, while politically moderate and socially diplomatic, has in the past voiced concern over what he called the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families.” He has also dismissed gender identity as “confusing ideology,” aligning with regressive rhetoric on trans rights.
So, the kiss wasn’t just a romantic act — it was holy resistance.
Faith, Defiance, and the Future of the Church
As LGBTQ+ Catholics look ahead, there’s cautious hope — but also deep anxiety. The church has long been at odds with queer love, and while Leo XIV may bring a softer tone than his ultra-conservative counterparts, he still carries the weight of a doctrine that hasn’t caught up with reality.
GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis offered an olive branch, calling on the new pope to “embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love” and urging him to build on the progress made under Francis. Whether Leo XIV chooses inclusion over exclusion remains to be seen — but the kiss in the crowd has already spoken louder than any papal address.
The Catholic Church may still be debating the legitimacy of queer lives. But on May 8, two men stood under the Vatican sky and answered with a kiss. And for many watching, that’s the kind of gospel worth spreading.