Did Pope Leo XIV intentionally ignore an LGBTQ flag? Internet sleuths unearth ‘truth’

Pope Leo XIV came under scrutiny after a 2012 video showing his conservative remarks about homosexuality went viral.

Updated on: May 14, 2025, 07:28:37 IST

By Trisha Sengupta

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Robert Francis Prevost, the first American pope, who has taken the title Leo XIV, is leading more than a billion Catholics around the world. Soon after his ascent to the papacy, he came under the scrutiny of social media users due to his conservative remarks about the LGBTQ+ community made in 2012. Amid this, a recent video of the pope allegedly ignoring a pride flag has fueled the controversy.

Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American to ascend to the papacy. (AP)

Acquisitions of ignoring an LGBTQ+ flag:

“Newly elected Pope Leo XIV intentionally ignored an LGBTQ rainbow flag by looking the other way when he approached it,” wrote an X user while sharing a video. Several others across X are sharing the same video.

Also Read: Rare behind-the-scenes footage: Emotional moment Pope Leo XIV embraces cardinals after landmark election

The video captures the moment the pope traverses the crowds. He shakes hands with some of the people standing beyond the railings. Towards the end of the video, a person appears with a flag in his hand.

Some speculated that Pope Leo XIV intentionally avoided the flag. The video sparked a fresh wave of debate among social media users about the new Catholic leader’s views.

Take a look at the video:

Internet sleuths disagree:

While most people were criticising the moment, a few claimed that the flag the man was holding was not a Pride Flag but a PACE flag. It looks similar to the Pride flag but is a peace flag.

Also Read: Laura Loomer calls Pope Leo XIV a 'woke Marxist', internet says she is ‘disrespectful’. Who is the MAGA influencer?

An individual wrote, “That's not a Pride flag. It's a peace flag. It says PACE.” Another added, “That's a peace flag and not pride.”

A third posted, “I'm pretty sure that flag means ‘peace’ in Italy.” A fourth remarked, “He's a great pope, but that is not an LGBT flag. The colors & white lettering are not LGBT & clearly show the Italian peace flag (Pace = Peace in Italian). This flag dates from 1961 in Italy, while the LGBT Pride flag was invented in 1978.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta
Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world