Pope Francis invited a group of trans-identified men to dine with him during a recent luncheon at the Vatican. The pontiff included the group of trans-identifying men to join him and about 1,000 other poor and homeless people for a lunch in the papal audience hall to commemorate the Catholic Church’s World Day of the Poor, according to The Associated Press.

After they showed up to the church of the Rev. Andrea Conocchia, who encouraged them to reach out Pope Francis, the pontiff reportedly reached out to meet them as they struggled with lack of income since many were not legally allowed in Italy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican bussed the women to a clinic to get the shot even ahead of other Italians, according to the AP. They continue to be given prominent seats during his general audience they attend each month, the AP reported. They also reportedly receive medicine, money and shampoo any day they need it.

“Before, the church was closed to us. They didn’t see us as normal people, they saw us as the devil,” said Andrea Paola Torres Lopez, a trans-identifying man from Colombia. “Then Pope Francis arrived and the doors of the church opened for us.” Carla Segovia, a prostitute from Argentina, told Reuters, “We transgenders here in Italy feel a bit more human because the fact that Pope Francis brings us closer to the Church is a beautiful thing. Because we need some love,” Segovia added.

The luncheon came weeks after the Vatican’s doctrinal office issued a document explaining that trans-identified individuals can be baptized and serve as godparents in some circumstances. The guidance, which was signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandéz and approved by Pope Francis on Oct. 31, stipulated that people who have undergone trans surgical procedures or taken cross-sex hormones can be baptized provided “there are no situations in which there is a risk of generating public scandal or disorientation among the faithful.”

Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the document notes that when baptism “is received without repentance for grave sins, the subject does not receive sanctifying grace, although they do receive the sacramental character,” according to a translation of the document by the Vatican News.

Pope Francis has been publicly critical of transgender ideology, describing it to La Nacion in March as “one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations.” Francis emphasized the difference between endorsing LGBT ideology and being compassionate toward people who struggle with sexuality or gender. “I always distinguish between what pastoral care is for people who have a different sexual orientation and what gender ideology is,” he said. “They are two different things. Gender ideology, at this time, is one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations.”

However, many see the Pope as moving the Catholic Church much more liberal than his predecessors. While he may condemn certain actions in public, his own actions, such as this luncheon, show that he is much more open to some of these ideas than he portrays. He has received much criticism from many conservative American Catholics to the point that he recently criticized them and calling them “backwards”.

Many conservatives have blasted Francis’ emphasis instead on social justice issues such as the environment and the poor, while also branding as heretical his opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive the sacraments as well as his leniency on abortion and same-sex marriage.

Biblical Connection: Some view the Roman Catholic Church as identified with the Babylon of the Book of Revelation that represents false religion. Regardless, it is clear that the Catholic Church leadership is pushing the church to a more liberal stance.

PRAY: Pray Christians throughout the world would stand strong on the biblical foundations that the church has been built on for centuries.