Pope Francis has stated that trans people may be baptized and act as godparents or witnesses to marriage under the same conditions as any other adultas long as a scandal does not result, according to PinkNews.
Additionally, the pontiff stated that children and adolescents who are beginning to identify as trans may also be baptized if they are "well-prepared and willing."
He stated that "pastoral prudence" is needed to avoid the "danger of scandal" or confusion among Catholics.
The pope's statement was just one response to inquiries posed to the Vatican by Bishop Jose Negri of Santo Amaro, Brazil. Negri was unsure of the "possible participation in baptism and weddings by transexual persons and homo-affective persons."
GLAAD President/CEO Sarah Kate Ellis responded in a statement: "Pope Francis' latest LGBTQ affirmation sends an unequivocal message to political and cultural leaders around the world to end their persecution and exclusion of transgender people."
Andrew Davis