Moira Camila Garnica and a group of fellow migrant transgender women have been gathering at their parish church to pray for Pope Francis as he recovers from pneumonia in a Rome hospital. Their prayers reflect both gratitude for his outreach and concern for the future of the church’s inclusivity.
Many of the women grew up Catholic in Argentina, like Francis, and some have met him personally. They appreciate his efforts to recognize and support their community, a group that often faces both social and institutional marginalization.
“The biggest fear is that if he is no longer leading the church, things might go backward,” said Garnica, 47. “We hope the church will continue with this empathy and openness.”
Garnica and several other Latin American women, many of whom have worked as sex workers in Italy for decades, attended an evening Mass in late February at the Blessed Immaculate Virgin Church. The parish played a vital role in their survival during Italy’s strict COVID-19 lockdowns, offering food, medicine, and financial assistance when they were left without income.
The church’s priest, Rev. Andrea Conocchia, encouraged them to write to Pope Francis about their struggles. In response, the Vatican provided financial aid and arranged for dozens of them to receive vaccinations. Some were later invited to a papal lunch for the poor, a gesture they view as a sign of the pope’s commitment to inclusion.
Carla Segovia, 48, of Indigenous Bolivian descent, described Francis’ outreach as a turning point.
“During the COVID period, Pope Francis recognized us as human beings,” she said. “That was the moment faith could embrace us.”
Segovia left Argentina more than 20 years ago amid an economic crisis. She has worked as a sex worker to finance her transition and has faced discrimination and violence. Now, as Francis battles illness, she and others want to return the support he showed them.
“We want to give him our strength,” she said. “The same strength he gave us during the pandemic. He fought for us, and now we want to help him fight for his life.”
Francis has made inclusion a hallmark of his papacy, even as debates over gender identity and immigration continue to divide public opinion. The Vatican has stated that transgender people can, under certain circumstances, be baptized and serve as godparents—an approach that differs from the stance of many Catholic bishops, particularly in the United States.
For Garnica and her community, Francis represents hope. Their prayers are not just for his recovery but for the future of a church that they hope will remain open to all.
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