Pope Francis was a "real game-changer" when it came to the Catholic Church's treatment of gay people, a London LGBT+ faith group has said. Martin Pendergast, the secretary of the LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council,

Pope Francis’s gestures of openness toward the gay community have led to a more capacious definition and understanding of family, one with political implications. When Vice President J.D. Vance ventured into theological waters, the Pope schooled the recent convert to Catholicism on the nuances of Catholic doctrine.

LGBTQ Catholics and theologians said Pope Francis' legacy teaches that change can happen when leaders are willing to listen.