Italy's transgender women thank pope for making them feel 'more human'

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer on the World Day of the Poor, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, November 19, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

TORVAIANICA, Italy/VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The run-down beach town of Torvaianica is about 35 kms (20 miles) south of the Vatican.

But for transgender women who live there it had seemed light years away until a rapprochement with the Catholic Church that began during the COVID-19 lockdown and led to an invitation to have lunch with Pope Francis on Sunday.