Nov. 19 ( Reuters )- The run-down beach town of Torvaianica is located about 35 kms ( 20 miles ) south of the Vatican. TORVAIANICA, Italy/VATICAN CITY
But until a reconciliation with the Catholic Church that started during the COVID- 19 quarantine and resulted in an offer to have breakfast with Pope Francis on Sunday, it had seemed light years away to the transgender women who live it.
About 1,200 weak and poor people attended the meal on the Church’s World Day of the Poor with Claudia Victoria Salas, 55, and Carla Segovia, 46, both Brazilian.
Salas, a former sex worker, was surprised to find herself seated across from the pope, an Argentine, at the principal table in the theater, where the pontiff typically holds his common audiences during the winter.
Carla Segovia, 46, a sex employee, said earlier this week on the lonely, windy beach of Torvaianica,” We transgender people here in Italy feel somewhat more people because Pope Francis brings us closer to the Church.”
She said,” Because we need some love.”
Trans people can serve as guardians at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious ceremonies, and baptized themselves, according to a statement from the Vatican’s philosophical office last week.
While conservatives criticized Francis for sending the faithful ambiguous messages about physical conscience, LGBT rights activists in the church praised the move.
Francis, 86, made an effort to increase the Church’s acceptance of the LGBT community without altering Church doctrines, including the claim that same-sex works are wicked rather than sexual attraction.
Father Andrea Conocchia, the priest of the Blessed Immaculate Virgin church in Torvaianica, provided food and other support to the transgender community during the height of COVID-19.
Conocchia asked the priest who oversees the pope’s charities for assistance because catholic resources were being stretched at the time because some people were losing their source of income.
The cardinal not only sent money, but also made arrangements for them to join the bishop and receive COVID vaccinations in the Vatican.
Next year, Salas referred to Conocchia as “our saint” for us.
Conocchia arrived at the Vatican on a bus on Sunday with around 50 members of his parish’s poor population, including trans people who were both European and foreign-born.
Segovia said as she walked into the hall,” This is a great opportunity for all of us bisexuals.” ” I give the bishop a hearty love.”
Philip Pullella wrote the text, and Barbara Lewis edited it.
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