Pope Leo XIV will dine with Alessia Nobile and other transgender Catholic activists this Sunday during the Vatican’s Jubilee of the Poor, a special lunch coinciding with the World Day of the Poor, Catholic journalist Christopher Hale reports.
The event begins with Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and continues with a communal meal for those experiencing homelessness or social marginalization. Nobile, 46, is among five trans women invited after formally requesting an audience with the new Pope.
Leo XIV, 69, elected May 8 following the death of Pope Francis, holds dual American and Peruvian citizenship and was born in Chicago. Nobile said her goal is to preserve the inclusive momentum fostered under Francis. “I ask Leo not to go backwards on rights,” she told Italian media.
A Journey Through the Church
Nobile’s path within the Church has not been easy. As a teenager, she endured secret “exorcism” rites from a school religion teacher and pressure on her family to consider electroshock therapy. Despite these hardships, she remained a practicing Catholic and later chronicled her experiences in the memoir La bambina invisibile.
Her relationship with the Church took a positive turn under Pope Francis. After meeting him in 2022, Nobile described him as a mentor and friend who encouraged her to share her story “so prejudice does not grow.” Francis also reminded her, “In the eyes of God, we are all His children.”
Under Francis, Nobile was seated in the front row at papal audiences, and the Pope even wrote her a handwritten note affirming God’s unconditional love, a gesture she described as “unrepeatable.”
Looking Forward
Sunday’s luncheon with Leo XIV represents a continuation of the Church’s outreach to marginalized communities. For Nobile and the other trans attendees, it is a moment of visibility and affirmation, reinforcing that the Vatican’s tables are increasingly open to diverse voices.
“It’s about being seen and recognized,” Nobile said. “Our presence is a reminder that the Church belongs to everyone.”
As Pope Leo XIV steps into his papacy, this Jubilee for the Poor could signal how his tenure will address inclusivity and engagement with communities often left on the margins.
