Pope Francis Receives Sr. Jeannine Gramick at Vatican
Pope Francis with Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL, along with New Ways Ministry staff members (from left) Matthew Myers, Francis DeBernardo, and Robert Shine
In a moment once unimaginable, Sister Jeannine Gramick, SL, met with Pope Francis today at the Vatican.
The 50-minute meeting took place the afternoon of Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at Casa Santa Marta, the pope’s residence in the Vatican. Three New Ways Ministry staff members were also present at the meeting.
Sister Jeannine, a co-founder of New Ways Ministry, brought greetings to Pope Francis from LGBTQ+ Catholics in the U.S. church. She thanked him for his openness to blessing same-sex unions, as well as for his opposition to the criminalization of LGBTQ+ people in civil society.
This meeting is remarkable because it reflects the steady acceptance of Catholic officials to LGBTQ+ issues and ministry. Previous popes and church leaders have opposed Sister Jeannine and New Ways Ministry. This meeting now represents a new openness to the pastorally-motivated, justice-seeking approach which Sister Jeannine and her organization have long practiced.
Sister Jeannine remarked about the experience of the papal meeting:
“The meeting was very emotional for me. From the day he was elected, I have loved and admired Pope Francis because of his humility, his love for the poor and for those shunned by society. He is the human face of Jesus in our era. Pope Francis looks into your heart and his eyes say that God loves you.”
The meeting was the latest interaction between Pope Francis, Sister Jeannine, and New Ways Ministry, which began over two years ago. Sister Jeannine has developed a friendly correspondence with him. In one letter Pope Francis called her a “valiant woman,” and later sent her a handwritten note congratulating her on her 50 years of LGBTQ+ ministry.
Having heard from friends that Pope Francis was eager to meet Sister Jeannine, she wrote to ask if she could visit him and bring Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, and Robert Shine, Associate Director, who were in Rome to cover the Synod on Synodality’s General Assembly, and Matthew Myers, New Ways Ministry’s Staff Associate. Pope Francis eagerly welcomed her and the group.
Communication between the pontiff, Sister Jeannine, and New Ways Ministry began in April 2021 when DeBernardo wrote to the pope to explain the organization’s mission and work. The letter also noted New Ways Ministry’s occasional confrontations with the Vatican and some U.S. Catholic officials in the course of its 46-year history, particularly focusing on the pioneering LGBTQ+ ministry of Sister Jeannine and Father Robert Nugent, SDS, the other co-founder of New Ways Ministry.
The pope responded quickly to this first letter, explaining that the Vatican sometimes receives partial information about people and organizations. He wrote that New Ways Ministry’s letter narrated the history objectively and helped him to better understand the situation. The Pope’s letter, written on official Vatican letterhead, offered pastoral encouragement. In closing Pope Francis wrote, “I remain at your disposal,” thus inviting further correspondence.
Since that time, Sister Jeannine and DeBernardo have written further letters to the pontiff, always receiving cordial and affirming handwritten notes in return.
DeBernardo commented on the latest encounter with the pope:
“This meeting was an affirmation not only of Sister Jeannine and New Ways Ministry but of the thousands upon thousands of LGBTQ+ people, parishes, schools, pastoral ministers, and religious communities who have been tirelessly working for equality, and who often experienced the great disapproval and ostracization that New Ways Ministry had experienced.
“Meeting with Pope Francis is a great encouragement for Sister Jeannine and New Ways Ministry to continue our work in the Catholic Church.”
—Robert Shine (he/him), New Ways Ministry, October 17, 2023
Has the name of Fr Robert Nugent SDS come up in communications with Pope Francis? I will be meeting in Rome with the Salvatorian Generalate Oct 19 and 20 and would like to tell them.
Persistence pays 🙏👏
This is very good news. Sr. Jeannine is a hero!
Bravo. Felicidades. Congratulations. And, blessings to you for your tireless work on behalf of justice for so many.
Delighted to read this wonderful news! Congratulations Jeannine, Francis and Robert and all in New Ways Ministry on this historic moment. It is so well deserved and a fitting testament to your work, witness and courage over the years.
Wow. I think I may believe in Miracles, New ways should be called Better ways.
Peace,
Tom
I couldn’t think of anyone who deserved a meeting with the Pope than Sister Jeannine. And all of you for all you do to help so many.
It is an honor to know you all.
I am thrilled for Jeannine, knowing how much she loved Francis from the day he was elected 😊😊😊😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Delighted for Sr Jeannine, Frank, Bob and Matthew. A well deserved recognition and vindication. May it bring many blessings and hope for the future that change is indeed possible.
Congratulations to all. It’s truly a blessing for the LGBTQ+ community to have such advocates and the warm response of Pope Francis.
Talk about “speaking truth to power!” Well done.
What a fabulous meeting! Thanks Sr Jeanine for your commitment and passion.
How much this meeting warms my heart. I’m reminded of a quote of Fr. Bryan Massingale: “Hope believes that good ultimately triumphs over evil…but not always. And that the victories often come at a terrible cost….”
The path of justice and the quest for welcome/being called by name begins with a single step and Divine hope is the energy that sustains our LGBTQ+ pilgrimage.
Congratulations Sister Jeannine and NewWays staff! Amazing. How far we have come. He is a true pastor to all of his flock.
Thank you for knowing science.
Thank you!! One of the best, unanticipated things to find in my email EVER!!!
Dear Jeannine, you have proven that patience and persistence when combined with prayer are powerful weapons! I never doubted you would be successful, and I am so very proud of you!
Bravo Sr. Jeannine and your staff for this awe moment in time. You are awesome as you join with many voices and one heart to greet an awesome Pope Francis.
Thank you Sister Jeanine and Frank and all the New Ways Staff for your tireless work over the last fifty years on behalf of LGBTQ+ folks. Congratulations on your meeting with Pope Francis. This is truely an historic moment.
This visit with the Pope sounds so tender and encouraging. Thank you for sharing the experience.
Thank you, Sister Jeannine, for all your hard work and dedication!
Congratulations, to you, and all the *saints* at New Ways Ministry!
Sr Jeannine’s welcome by Pope Francis after decades of Papal and curial ridicule is indicative of the fact, disclosed in the synodal journey on five continents, that the People of God are opposed to Church teaching on homosexuality and that Jeannine’s views now represent the Church mainstream. Now if only Francis would do what only he can do…. change the teaching, stop the hurt, let love in! Let us pray…..
How wonderful… congratulations, Sr. Jeannine, Frank, Bob, and Matt!
I thank God for Pope Francis’ support for SisterJeanine and New Ways Ministry.
Thank you!!! This is such outstanding news and event for you all