Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of clerical sexual abuse and an openly gay Vatican advisor, remembers Pope Francis’ monumental support for LGBTQ+ worshipers, and the pope’s commitment to reform in the Catholic church after investigations uncovered the Chilean sex abuse scandal that victimized Cruz.

Buenos Aires

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, has died at age 88 from a cerebral stroke and subsequent heart failure, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis Dies

Juan Carlos Cruz, an openly gay Vatican advisor and survivor of clerical sexual abuse, recalls Pope Francis' significant support for LGBTQ+ worshipers and his commitment to reforming the Catholic church. In 2018, Cruz spent three days with Pope Francis discussing the Chilean sex abuse scandal. During this time, the pope issued an apology to Cruz for errors in how the scandal was handled, pledging to provide safe spaces and work on reparations for victims. Pope Francis' efforts towards inclusivity included the establishment of the church's first commission for the protection of minors in 2014 and approving blessings for same-sex couples in 2023, two years before his life concluded.

Cruz recounts a poignant moment when a Chilean cardinal cast doubt on Cruz's victimhood because of his sexuality. In response, Pope Francis assured Cruz that his identity as a gay man did not affect God's love for him. The pope also expressed compassion when meeting transgender individuals brought to him by Cruz, showing empathy through his emotional reactions. In developing a personal relationship with the pope, Cruz highlights the pope's vision; for the church to be a sanctuary for all people, emphasizing equality and acceptance.



Vatican advisor describes Pope support for trans worshipers

Pope Francis had the guts and the courage to name things by their name, things that were forbidden to speak, right, the abuse of priests, the cover-up of bishops, of cardinals. Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of clerical sexual abuse and an openly gay Vatican adviser, remembers the time he spent three days with Pope Francis in 2018, during which the pope apologized to Cruz for, quote, grave errors in his handling of a Chilean sex abuse scandal. He really has made a difference, providing safe spaces and prevention, and now we're working on reparation, which is also very important, if you ever can be repaired of this. Pope Francis established the church's first commission for the protection of minors in 2014, and in 2023, the pope authorized blessings for same-sex couples, less than two years before he died. In 2018, he knew, obviously, that the cardinal in Chile, where I'm from, told the newspaper, oh, Juan Carlos Cruz, I don't think he's a victim because he's gay, he might have liked it. Imagine how that feels. And so it really hurt. But Pope Francis told me, Juan Carlos, the fact that you're gay doesn't matter, God loves you, God made you like this, and the pope loves you, and you're fine, don't worry. The LGBT community, I took some trans people to meet him, and they told him his stories, and he was almost in tears. After his first meeting with Francis, Cruz shared a friendship with the head of the Catholic Church, meeting with the pope every two weeks for a period of time. I spent Christmas with him, we spent each other's birthdays together, we talked on the phone all the time. He said, the church belongs to todos, todos, todos, to everyone, everyone, everyone. And that's how we need to remember him, and that's the message we need to continue.

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Pope Francis Dies