A transgender teacher from Leicester has attended an audience with the Pope, where he discussed the role of LGBT people in the Catholic church.
George White, 31, is a Religious Education teacher at St Paul’s Catholic girls’ school, Evington.
He met the Pontiff alongside a group of fellow transgender men on 23rd October. The visit was arranged following a conference where he met other trans individuals interested in pursuing priesthood.
At present, the Vatican does not permit women to be priests.
In recent years, the Pope has leaned towards pro-LGBT principles. In 2023, he said trans people could be baptised into Catholicism, as long as doing so did not cause “confusion” for other church members. However in April 2024, the Vatican’s Dignitas Infinita document stated that there is an intrinsic connection between body and soul, and that sex change “risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception".
Mr White told BBC News: "Although very little has changed in terms of our doctrine, the pastoral approach from Pope Francis has been drastically different to that which we have seen ever before.
"He has invited us to be visibly present at his audience. I think it's very brave and commendable… I think it's the right thing to do."