GLAAD Leaders Remember Pope Francis as Transformational LGBTQ Ally

Pope Francis's Funeral and Legacy

• 🕊️ Pope Francis's body will lie in state for three days at St. Peter's Basilica before his funeral on Saturday in St. Peter's Square.
• 🪦 He requested to be buried in the ground at St. Mary's Basilica in Rome without any particular decoration.
• 💖 He is remembered by many as the "people's pope," known for his legacy of compassion, particularly towards the LGBTQ community.

Pope Francis and the LGBTQ Community

• 🤝 Ross Murray of the Glad Media Institute shared a personal interaction with Pope Francis in 2023, highlighting the Pope's warmth and openness.
• 🌟 GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, described Pope Francis as a transformational leader who included LGBTQ people in historic ways.
• 🏳️‍🌈 He is considered the most open and accepting pope in history regarding the LGBTQ community.
• 📜 During his pontificate, Francis eased the church's stance, notably allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.

Papal Succession and Vision

• ⛪ USF associate professor James Caendish noted that Pope Francis took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, who rejected wealth for a simple life.
• 🔮 It is believed that Pope Francis selected cardinals who shared his vision of the church as open and welcoming.
• 🗳️ The next pope will be chosen by the college of cardinals through a secret ballot.