Pope Leo XIV meets leaders of chastity apostolate for Catholics with same-sex attractions

ROME (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV met Feb. 6 with leaders of Courage International, a Catholic apostolate that provides spiritual support to people with same-sex attraction who seek to live chaste lives in accordance with Church teaching.

The private audience included Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Conn., who chairs the group’s board of bishops and Father Brian Gannon, the executive director of Courage International, as well as Angelo Sabella, a longtime Courage member.

According to a statement from the organization, the private meeting was an “opportunity to share with the Holy Father the works of the apostolate, to provide pastoral accompaniment to persons who experience same-sex attraction but who strive to live chaste lives or to accompany family members who have a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ.”

Founded in 1980 by Father John Harvey at the request of then-Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York, Courage has grown to more than 160 chapters in 15 countries. The group received canonical status as a diocesan clerical association of the Christian Faithful in 2016.

Courage’s five core principles emphasize chastity, prayer, fellowship, support and setting a good example. The group also operates EnCourage, a related apostolate with more than 100 chapters in eight countries that supports families and friends of people who identify as LGBTQ.

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