Bavarian group raised rainbow flag at World Youth Day

"We experienced a great deal of support and openness"

German group at World Youth Day: Rainbow flag well received

Over a million young people from all over the world celebrated mass with the Pope on Sunday in an open space on the outskirts of Rome. Many brought flags with them – a German group raised a special flag. Many applauded for this.

A group from Bavaria caused a sensation at the World Youth Day in Rome: They brought a rainbow flag, which they raised at the event as part of the Catholic Church's Holy Year. "We've received a lot of positive feedback," Pauline Erdmann, chairwoman of the Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, reported to the Catholic News Agency (KNA). "Young people from many countries who passed by applauded and thanked us for displaying the flag. Many wanted to have their photo taken with it."

They hadn't noticed any other rainbow flag on the 96-hectare Tor Vergata site on the outskirts of Rome, said Jakob Stadler, spokesperson for the Queer Working Group at the BDKJ Munich-Freising. "We haven't experienced anything negative here, but rather a great deal of support and openness." A night of prayer and the closing mass with Pope Leo XIV took place on the large outdoor grounds over the weekend, attended by more than a million young people from around 150 countries. They also carried the light blue altar boys' flag. The rainbow flag read "Love is no sin."

"We hold this issue high because queer people also have their place in the Catholic Church," Stadler emphasized. The blessing of same-sex couples and the recognition of all genders are essential. In the Archdiocese of Munich-Freising, there is a great deal of openness on the topic on both sides. "Our priests are aware of this; it is a dialogue we want to remain in, because there is not just black and white," Stadler said.

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