Processes of Agency, Negotiation and Identity Construction: Lived Religion and LGBTQ+ in relation to Catholic Norms and Practices in Europe from Historical, Ethical and Practical Theological Perspectives

An interdisciplinary investigation into the negotiation of faith, identity and LGBTQ+ matters in contemporary Europe from a practical theology standpoint

Team
Giorgio Maria Millesimi (PhD Researcher) Jade Willaert (FWO PhD
Matt Whiffen (PhD Researcher)
Eric Martinez Tomasini (PhD Researcher)
Dries Bosschaert (Supervisor)
Annemie Dillen (Co-Supervisor)
Nenad Polgar (Co-Supervisor)

Project duration
2024-2029

Latest Activites

This year, the Panic Research Team has been very active!

Here are some of the past and current activities from each member of the team:

Jade, Giorgio and Matt have drawn a reading list of recommended books : Eleven Post-Pride Must-Reads – Theology Research News

Matt and Giorgio participated at the ESCT Congress in Dublin in August.

Jade

Jade has written an opinion piece in Knack (Flemish magazine): ‘Polarisatie over ethische thema’s? Misschien is de Belgische Kerk niet zo progressief als we vaak denken’ and a presented a paper at the International Academy of Practical Theology Conference in Saksatoon, Canada last June on the topic : “Is Practical Ecclesiology Really the Answer? Reconsidering the Need for a Pastoral Discourse on LGBTQIA+ Matters.”

More recently, she has presented a paper (December 3, 2025) at the online Lived Catholicism Conference (organised by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University), together with dr. Jens Van Rompaey: “Simultaneity of LGBTQ and Synodality: Parallel Paths or Intersecting Journeys” as a well as a paper for a webinar series organised by the European Society for Catholic Theology: “Learning From ‘the other’: Autoethnographic Reflections on the Catholic Church, Theology and LGBTQ+ Matters.”

Matt

Matt was present at the Graduate Workshop of the Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies in at the University of Regensburg in early July. The Workshop was called “Post-Cold War Transformations: Navigating Conflict and Cooperation in Eastern and Southeastern Europe”, and his presentation, as part of the session “Memory, Identity and Representation” was a paper called “Proud Europeans? LGBTQ+ Visibility, Catholic Resistance, and Contested National Identity in Post-Accession Croatia”. 

Giorgio shares his Fieldwork Reflections from the LGBTQ+ Jubilee Pilgrimage (Italian version below):

“We are a group of real stories. We are a group of people that ask with dignity and authenticity and truth to be recognized.” These words were spoken by the Most Rev. Francesco Savino, Vice-President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, during his homily on 6 September 2025 for the first Vatican-approved LGBTQ+ Jubilee pilgrimage. Giorgio Maria Millesimi attended the event as part of his fieldwork for his project examining how Catholic identity in Italy is constructed in relation to LGBTQ+ matters. 

As the Chiesa del Gesù (the church where the Mass was celebrated) gradually filled, the sound of many different languages rose in the hot late-summer Roman air. Pilgrims from across the world had travelled to Rome for the occasion, with around 1400 people in total. Following the Mass, participants processed to St Peter’s Basilica and crossed the Holy Door together. This spiritual moment would have seemed unimaginable only 25 years ago, when the Jubilee of 2000 coincided with World Pride in Rome and the presence of LGBTQ+ people in Catholic life became a point of intense public and ecclesial tension. 

As the Italian Church continues to reflect on the presence of LGBTQ+ Catholics, an effort shown in the recently approved Synodal document “Leaven of Peace and Hope”, the pilgrimage marked a significant milestone for both the Italian and the global Church within this ongoing process. During the homely, the congregation broke into a standing ovation when Bishop Savino declared: “It is time to restore dignity to all, especially those to whom it has been denied.”

The PANIC project seeks to move beyond the often dualistic or overly simplified narratives that frame the different positions inside the Catholic Church on LGBTQ+ matters as a clash between “conservatives” and “progressives”, or that portray the Church as uniformly opposed to LGBTQ+ people. The LGBTQ+ Jubilee pilgrimage revealed a Church that is changing, a reality far more complex than the usual narratives allow. With our project, we aim to trace this evolution in the years ahead, examining the tensions and possibilities it brings to the fore, while keeping at the center the dignity of those whose voices and stories have been marginalized.

Riflessioni sul pellegrinaggio giubilare LGBTQ+

“Siamo un popolo di storie concrete. Siamo un popolo di persone che chiedono con dignità e con autenticità e con verità di essere riconosciuti.” Queste parole sono state pronunciate da S.E.R. Mons. Francesco Savino, Vicepresidente della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana, durante la sua omelia del 6 settembre 2025 per il primo pellegrinaggio giubilare LGBTQ+ approvato dal Vaticano. Giorgio Maria Millesimi ha partecipato all’evento come parte della sua ricerca sul campo per il suo progetto che esamina come l’identità cattolica in Italia si costruisca in dialogo con le questioni LGBTQ+.

Mentre la Chiesa del Gesù, in cui la Messa è stata celebrata, si riempiva gradualmente, il suono di molte lingue diverse si mescolava nell’aria calda della tarda estate romana. Circa 1400 pellegrini da tutto il mondo avevano raggiunto Roma per l’occasione. Dopo la Messa, i partecipanti si sono diretti in processione verso la Basilica di San Pietro e hanno varcato insieme la Porta Santa. Questo momento spirituale sarebbe apparso inimmaginabile appena 25 anni fa, quando il Giubileo del 2000 coincise con il World Pride di Roma e la presenza delle persone LGBTQ+ nella vita cattolica divenne oggetto di forti discussioni pubbliche ed ecclesiali.

Mentre la Chiesa italiana continua a riflettere sulla presenza dei cattolici LGBTQ+, uno sforzo reso evidente nel documento sinodale recentemente approvato “Lievito di pace e di speranza”, il pellegrinaggio giubilare ha segnato una tappa significativa sia per la Chiesa italiana sia per quella globale in questo cammino in atto. Durante l’omelia, l’assemblea si è alzata in un grande applauso quando il vescovo Savino ha dichiarato: “È l’ora di restituire dignità a tutti, soprattutto a chi è stata negata.”

Il progetto PANIC cerca di andare oltre le narrazioni spesso dualistiche o eccessivamente semplificate che presentano le diverse posizioni all’interno della Chiesa cattolica sulle questioni LGBTQ+ come uno scontro tra “conservatori” e “progressisti”, o che descrivono la Chiesa come uniformemente contraria alle persone LGBTQ+. Il pellegrinaggio giubilare LGBTQ+ ha rivelato una Chiesa che sta cambiando, una realtà molto più complessa di quanto consentano le narrazioni abituali. Con il nostro progetto vogliamo seguire questa evoluzione negli anni a venire, cogliendone tensioni e possibilità, e tenendo sempre al centro la dignità di chi, finora, ha visto le proprie voci e storie marginalizzate.