Gay couple go viral after kissing in the Vatican as new pope announced
Two men took to chance to make a defiant show of queer visibility (@dontcallmekydd on X/Twitter)
Two men took to chance to make a defiant show of queer visibility (@dontcallmekydd on X/Twitter)
As news broke that the papal conclave had elected American Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope, cameras panned across a cheering crowd and one gay couple took the opportunity to lock lips in a defiant show of queer visibility – going viral in the process.
On Thursday (8 May) 69-year-old Chicago-born Prevost, who is also a Peruvian citizen, became the 267th pontiff after a two-day papal conclave. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV and is the first American to hold the role of head of the Catholic Church.
Prevost was not considered a frontrunner to be elected as pontiff in the lead-up to the papal conclave. The centrist figure was reportedly close to Pope Francis, who died aged 88 in April following a spell of poor health.
Francis had a complex relationship with the LGBTQ+ community but on the whole was credited with moving certain conversations about LGBTQ+ issues in the Catholic Church forward, as well as softening the church’s language on queer people compared to his predecessors such as with his famous “who am I to judge?” statement.
In Prevost, whilst commenting on some social issues – including immigration policies of the Trump Administration and expressing sympathy for the death of George Floyd – he has made much less positive statements about the queer community in the past in the past.
However, LGBTQ+ Catholics remain hopeful his “opinions and ideas can change” about LGBTQ+ folks and their place within the church.
Following the announcement that a new Pope had been chosen, a camera panned across a cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square and one couple took the opportunity to make a subtle but powerful statement.
During the short clip, which was subsequently shared to social media platform X/Twitter, spectators can be seen happily waving and moving to get into the camera’s view. In the centre of the image, two men were much more nonchalant and as the camera passed by leaned in to briefly peck each other on the lips.
“Those KINGS saw their opportunity and TOOK IT!,” the account which shared the clip wrote.
Those KINGS saw their opportunity and TOOK IT!#pope #habemuspapam pic.twitter.com/TFyUVw8xrf
— Martin thesundancekydd (@dontcallmekydd) May 8, 2025
Underneath the post, an account seemingly belonging to one half of the couple, under the name of Juan, shared an image of the same men, in the same clothes, kissing in front of the Vatican.
Given the Catholic Church’s slow progress on LGBTQ+ rights and the regressive attitudes of many who hold senior roles within the organisation, the small kiss was a powerful statement that queer people are here and present.
It remains to be seem what route Prevost will take on LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance, however his previous comments have not been too promising.
Following his election The New York Times reported Prevost was critical of entertainment media in 2012, saying it held “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,” including the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children”.
He has also been quoted as opposing so-called ‘gender ideology’, a dogwhistle used to refer to trans rights, saying: “The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist.”
Reacting to the election of Robert Prevost, CEO and president of LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD, Sarah Kate Ellis, called on him to “build on the progress” made by Pope Francis.
“The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter. With Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love”, she said in a statement.
“He can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all. We are hopeful to collaborate with Pope Leo, just as we did with Pope Francis, to help ensure the Church continues to grow as a welcoming home for everyone.”
