In a special episode of "The Vatican Briefing," Vatican experts Joshua McElwee and Christopher White have an exclusive conversation with Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick about her historic meeting with Pope Francis. Gramick, a longtime advocate for LGBTQ Catholics, has long operated at the margins of the global Catholic Church. But on Oct. 17, she was welcomed into the Vatican for an historic 50-minute meeting with Francis. The pope, says Gramick, "has a warmth and a wanting to embrace everyone, not just LGBT people but those who have been shunned by society and the church." Francis, she says, "is trying to get us to move forward." Please support this podcast by joining NCR Forward, National Catholic Reporter's membership program.  Relevant links: Joshua McElwee's initial coverage of Pope Francis' meeting with Loretto Sr. Jeannine Gramick: Pope Francis meets Jeannine Gramick, US sister known for LGBTQ ministry  Christopher White's coverage of the 2023 Synod of Bishops' debates on gay Catholics: LGBTQ Catholics subject of emotional debate at synod, participants say Christopher White's coverage of German Cardinal Gerhard Muller's interview with EWTN: German Cardinal Müller defies pope's request for confidentiality at synod with EWTN interview Joshua McElwee and Christopher White's coverage of Pope Francis' letter suggesting the Catholic Church might bless same-sex couples: Pope signals openness to blessings for gay couples, study of women's ordination