Pope Leo welcomes new pro-LGBT ambassador to the Holy See

VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Belgium’s new ambassador to the Holy See marched in “Vienna Pride” events and championed LGBT causes for years before before being formally received by Pope Leo XIV on Thursday.

On August 27, Caroline Vermeulen presented her credentials to Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, formally beginning her tenure as Belgium’s ambassador to the Holy See. Before her appointment, she participated in “Vienna Pride” marches, promoted LGBT-related initiatives, organized a “Pride Month” screening of the pro-transgender film Girl, and joined International Gender Champions, a network advocating contemporary gender policies.

“Diversity, including gender diversity, in a professional environment improves the quality and results of teamwork. Empowering women through professional mentoring is a vital step toward gender equality. When we invest in women’s growth and stand firm against gender-based biases, we build a future where every woman is empowered to thrive and reach her full potential,” her profile reads on the official website of International Gender Champions, a network bringing together diplomatic missions, international organizations, and other institutions committed to lobbying for gender equality.

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During her four years in Vienna from 2022 to 2026, Vermeulen took part as a member of the Diplomats for Equality contingent and as Belgium’s ambassador in the city’s LGBT “Pride” marches on June 17, 2023, “for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community,” and on June 14, 2026. The diplomatic group brought together several representatives accredited in Austria in support of LGBT-related causes.

Her participation extended beyond the annual marches. On May 17, 2026, while Vermeulen was Belgium’s ambassador in Vienna, Belgium’s diplomatic representation joined a Diplomats for Equality Vienna statement marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. The statement affirmed the “equality and dignity of LGBTI people.”

On June 21, 2024, Vermeulen and Carl Hallergård, then the European Union ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, promoted a screening of the Belgian film Girl during the so-called “Pride Month.” Directed by Lukas Dhont, the 2018 film follows a 15-year-old boy who identifies as female and seeks to become a ballet dancer. The event was organized with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the international human-rights film festival “This Human World.”

The Holy See Press Office published Vermeulen’s biographical information and confirmed her audience with Pope Leo XIV but did not disclose details of their conversation. Furthermore, there is no reference to Vermeulen’s gender-oriented policies or to her systematic support for the LGBT cause.

French outlet Tribune Chrétienne noted that Belgium was the second European country to adopted legislation on euthanasia and affirming gender identification, both in violation of Catholic teaching. In 2002 Belgium legalized euthanasia and, in 2014, removed an explicit age limit for euthanasia under specified conditions for minors. Belgian law also permits changes to the officially registered sex of a person through a procedure based mostly on self-identification, without any medical requirements.