TORVAIANICA (Italy), Mar 2: Moira Camila Garnica and a group of migrant transgender women have been gathering at their parish church to pray for Pope Francis, who is currently fighting pneumonia in a hospital in Rome, approximately an hour away from this modest seaside town.
Many of them share a Catholic upbringing in Argentina, similar to Francis, and their prayers reflect gratitude for his efforts to connect with marginalized communities – several have even met with him personally – alongside hopes that the progress he has initiated will remain intact.
“Our greatest fear is the uncertainty of what will happen if he is no longer at the helm of the church; we worry that things could regress,” expressed Garnica, 47. “We pray that the church continues to display empathy, inclusivity, and support because sometimes one individual’s progress is followed by a regression from others.”
Garnica along with other Latin American women, many of whom work as sex workers and have lived in Italy for decades, gathered for evening Mass at the Blessed Immaculate Virgin Church in late February. Here, they found food, medical care, and essential financial support during Italy’s severe COVID-19 lockdown, which left them unable to work, isolated, and in dire straits.
The parish priest, the Rev. Andrea Conocchia, encouraged them to write letters to Francis detailing their challenges. The Vatican’s almoner office responded not only with financial aid but also facilitated vaccinations for several dozen women. Years later, some were invited to share a meal with the pope for the poor.
“During this Covid period, it was vital for Pope Francis to understand the experiences of transgender women and recognize our humanity; that moment represented a potential embrace of faith and Christianity,” said Carla Segovia.
The 48-year-old woman, of Indigenous Bolivian heritage, left Argentina as a college student during its economic crisis over twenty years ago. She has worked as a prostitute since financing her gender surgeries as a young person, describing the violence and discrimination she’s encountered as a challenging test of her ability to survive.
With Francis’s illness, she expressed her desire to “send him the strength he provided to us during the difficult days of the pandemic. We want to share this vital strength, emphasizing the importance of fighting for one’s life.”
Gender transition remains a divisive issue in many countries, including the United States, where Catholic bishops largely oppose it. Immigration issues also stir political tensions on both sides of the Atlantic. However, Francis has focused on inclusion during his papacy; the Vatican has even indicated that, under specific circumstances, trans individuals may be baptized as Catholics and serve as godparents.
Segovia and others from their community were active members of the church in their youth but felt estranged due to their identities and occupations – that was until they arrived at the parish’s food distribution center during the pandemic lockdown.
“We Latin Americans have strong Catholic roots, but being trans often leads to closed doors, causing people to distance themselves from us, and we too have distanced ourselves,” Garnica shared. “Word spread that this church was welcoming and supportive, so I came seeking help because I felt utterly alone.”
Minerva, a 54-year-old Peruvian who asked to use only her professional name, similarly expressed her emotional change upon discovering the church.
“We were out of work and had no money for food. A friend advised me to go to the parish and request Father Andrea. I went, knocked, and he opened his arms wider than ever before, offering an incredible level of support that continues to this day,” Minerva said.
“He has opened numerous doors for us. Initially, we received little attention from people here, but now when they see us, they acknowledge us with greetings.”
For Rev. Conocchia, assisting these women aligns perfectly with Francis’s vision of an open church that extends compassion to the marginalized, who he famously said, “Who am I to judge?” with regard to LGBTQ+ issues.
“We center the poor, we center people, and that’s the essence of the Gospel,” Conocchia remarked. “What matters is the individual, their life story … a person is so much more than their actions.”
He noted that the Vatican’s shifted perception and active welcome for this group of women could aid in dispelling the biases held by those within religious communities – particularly since some of their clients may be individuals attending Mass, he wryly acknowledged.
For these women, often ostracized by their families, it represents a profound moment of grace that resonates deeply.
“A trans woman could never have envisioned seeing the pope welcome and assist her,” Garnica expressed. “Being Latin American often brings mistreatment; imagine being both Latin American and trans … But thanks to Father Andrea, people have begun to recognize that we too possess hearts, can contribute, and need the church as well.”
Minerva was once a First Communion catechist in her parish in Peru until she claims her identity led to her dismissal. Now, in the Torvaianica sacristy, beneath a portrait of Francis, she practices the Spanish version of “Amazing Grace,” aspiring to join the local choir. One verse she particularly enjoys singing to Mary speaks of stepping out of darkness and into the light.
“I am church – not merely a part of the church; I am church because we all embody the church,” she concluded. (AP)
