Gio Benitez, an ABC News anchor who is openly gay, has rejoined the Catholic Church in New York City, marking a meaningful step in a spiritual journey that has unfolded over many years.
On Monday, Nov. 10, the Good Morning America co-anchor shared a heartfelt video of his confirmation mass at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan. His husband, Tommy DiDario, stood beside him as his sponsor — a moment Benitez said was partly inspired by the late Pope Francis and his “legacy of inclusivity.”
“I found the Ark of the Covenant in my heart, stored there by the one who created me… exactly as I am,” the 40-year-old wrote on Instagram.
Benitez was first baptized alongside his mother at age 15, but he remembers wrestling with one question that stayed with him for years: “If God created me, how could he not love me?” As he explained, he went on to study religion in college, searching for proof of God — or perhaps, he reflected, searching for proof of God’s love.
He and DiDario eventually married in April 2016 after meeting online, but it wasn’t until recently that Benitez felt drawn back to Catholicism. Six months ago, the death of Pope Francis on April 21 prompted him to reflect deeply, especially after watching Father James Martin discuss the pontiff’s more progressive approach during an appearance on GMA. The late Pope’s famous statement from 2013 — “Who am I to judge?” — especially resonated with him.
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Martin has long advocated for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ people within the Church and even met with Pope Francis to discuss the community’s place in Catholic life. Speaking to NPR in April, Martin noted the profound impact the Pope had made: “Pope Francis did more for LGBTQ Catholics and LGBTQ people in general than all of his predecessors combined. He was the first pope ever to use the word gay. He called for the decriminalization of homosexuality. He met with LGBTQ people. He met regularly with transgender people.”
This message of openness reached Benitez at precisely the right moment. In May, he walked into the Church of St. Paul the Apostle — a parish known for its inclusive community — and was moved by Father Eric Andrews’ simple but powerful reminder: “Love. One. Another.”
Benitez shared that when people are able “to love freely and openly — and to love ourselves as well — we are a long ways down the road to fulfilling the Kingdom of God.”
As he prepared for confirmation, he realized that the divine love he had long sought was already within him — “always whispering guidance, gently reaching out with arms wide open,” he wrote, comparing it to Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam.
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During his confirmation mass, Benitez was joined by close friends and family members who had been part of his spiritual journey. He described feeling surrounded not only by those present, but also by loved ones who had shaped his faith throughout his life — “praying for me behind an invisible veil.”
He expressed gratitude to church leaders who helped him understand that “God’s loving mercy is unconditional,” as well as to his mother, sister, and husband for their unwavering support.
In response to his post, Father Martin wrote a single, meaningful word: “Welcome!”
