Pope Leo XIV’s audience with Courage International marks a historic moment for the apostolate serving Catholics with same-sex attraction.
Newsroom (09/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV received a delegation on Friday from Courage International, a long-standing apostolate that supports men and women who experience same-sex attraction in living chastely according to Catholic teaching. The audience, described by Courage as a “momentous occasion,” marks a milestone in the group’s 46-year history and underscores the Vatican’s recognition of a ministry once little known beyond diocesan borders.
The delegation was led by Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who chairs the Courage International Episcopal Board. Accompanying him were Father Kyle Schnippel of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, head of the organization’s Executive Board; Courage executive director Father Brian Gannon of Bridgeport; and Angelo Sabella, a 31-year member of the group.
In a statement, Courage described the papal audience as one that “affirms the peaceful joy of the staff and members of Courage who seek to grow in holiness through living the truth in love.”
A Long-Awaited Meeting
For Courage International, this moment was more than symbolic—it was the culmination of more than a decade of requests and coordination.
“Courage has been working on getting a papal audience for over 13 years,” said Father Colin Blatchford, the organization’s associate director, in an interview with Crux. The effort spanned two pontificates and, as Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso revealed, had nearly come to fruition under Pope Francis before his health declined in late 2024. Francis passed away in April 2025, before a meeting could be arranged.
Founded in 1980 in New York by Father John Harvey, OSFS, Courage has expanded to more than 160 chapters across 15 countries. Each local chapter operates only with the approval of its diocesan bishop, who appoints priests as chaplains and ensures the program’s fidelity to Church teaching. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has consistently endorsed Courage and its sister apostolate, EnCourage, affirming them as “ministries whose principles are in accord with Church teaching.”
The Courage Approach
Courage’s pastoral mission rests on what Blatchford calls five essential goals: “good example, prayer, dedication, fellowship, and support.” These principles form the spiritual scaffolding for members striving to live chaste lives in communion with Catholic moral teaching. Yet, Blatchford emphasized, these are not merely rules—they are a means toward sanctity. “The essence of what Courage does is to accompany people in becoming saints,” he said.
Central to that mission is the spiritual tradition of St. Francis de Sales, the 17th-century bishop, doctor of the Church, and patron saint of writers and journalists. “He is known for never having a cross word for anybody,” Blatchford explained. “He always spoke the truth in a way that conveyed a true willingness to be with anybody at any point.”
Father Harvey, himself an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, drew deeply from this spirituality when shaping Courage’s pastoral model. “Father Harvey had been doing this work for 20 or 30 years before he founded Courage,” Blatchford noted, describing the founder’s compassionate style as rooted in patience and sincerity.
Ministry Amid Cultural Tensions
Courage’s work often intersects with broader cultural debates about sexuality, identity, and autonomy—spaces where, as Blatchford acknowledged, “consensus regarding ministry and outreach is difficult to achieve.” The apostolate’s leaders are accustomed to misunderstanding and even skepticism from both secular and religious audiences.
“If something is said directly about us, then we’re happy to clarify it,” Blatchford said. “We’re not going to go after somebody else or tell them they’re wrong.”
That posture of humility and accompaniment reflects Courage’s grounding in pastoral presence rather than polemic. As Blatchford put it simply, “Our work is to go and to be with people who are suffering and try and lead them to Christ. That’s what we’re going to do, and that’s what we’re going to concern ourselves with.”
A Turning Point for a Quiet Apostolate
For Courage members worldwide, the Vatican audience signals not only institutional validation but also personal encouragement. After years of steady, often unseen ministry, their meeting with Pope Leo XIV affirms both their mission and their method: to walk patiently and joyfully with those seeking holiness, one life at a time.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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