Pope Francis Meets with Transgender Man and Fiance

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Jan 29, 2015

Pope Francis Meets with Transgender Man and Fiance

Pope Francis held a private audience with a transgender man and his fiance last Saturday (Jan. 24), which has led some to suggest that the pontiff is pushing boundaries on LGBT issues. 

Francis spent time with Diego Neria Lejárraga, a man who was born a woman but underwent sex-reassignment surgery and took on a female persona. Christian Today reports Lejárraga has once been called the “devil’s daughter” by a priest. 

Lejárraga was rejected by his religious community, and wrote to Francis to express his difficulty.

"After hearing him speak in many occasions, I felt that he would listen to me," he said.

Pope Francis reportedly called Lejárraga on Christmas Eve and invited him to the Vatican for a meeting. 

The Huffington Post reports that the Vatican has been tight-lipped about the meeting, which has prompted some so say that the Catholic Church has not yet accepted the LGBT community. 

Pope Francis has a growing reputation of being tolerant of homosexuals, saying that the gay community should be appreciated for their gifts and talents. 

Publication date: January 29, 2015



Pope Francis Meets with Transgender Man and Fiance