Pope Leo XIV visits Monaco; urges citizens to use their faith, wealth for good
MONACO, March 28: Pope Leo XIV visited the Mediterranean principality of Monaco on Saturday, urging its residents to use their wealth, influence, and Catholic faith for the common good, particularly in defending the sanctity of life.
This historic visit marked the first papal trip to Monaco since Pope Paul III visited in 1538. Welcomed at the Monaco heliport by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Leo emphasized the importance of moral responsibility amid a world where displays of power and oppression threaten peace. Speaking from the palace balcony in French, he encouraged the principality’s citizens to protect human life “at any time and in any condition” and to ensure that no one is excluded from “the table of fraternity.”
Monaco, a tiny coastal state of just 2.2 square kilometers, is officially Catholic, and the church holds significant influence over its politics and society. Recently, Prince Albert rejected a proposal to legalize abortion, citing the principality’s Catholic identity, a stance largely symbolic given France’s surrounding constitutional allowance for abortion. Albert’s position aligns with other European Catholic royals who uphold church doctrine in increasingly secular contexts. Pope Leo’s visit reflects the Vatican’s continuing support for these stances, echoing Pope Francis’s 2024 visit to Belgium, where he opened the path toward sainthood for the late King Baudouin, who abdicated for a day in 1990 rather than approve abortion legislation.
Monaco, known for its tax-friendly policies, Formula 1 Grand Prix, and glitzy lifestyle, is home to just 38,000 people, with only a fifth being citizens, while the rest are multinational residents. Despite its small size, Leo highlighted Monaco’s potential influence through its “gift of smallness” and called on citizens to leverage it for moral and humanitarian purposes. The one-day visit included a meeting with Monaco’s Catholic community at the cathedral and a Mass at the sports stadium.
The visit combined ceremonial pomp and pastoral messaging, with royal protocol observed, including Charlene wearing white, a privilege reserved for Catholic sovereigns meeting the pope. Leo’s arrival underscored Monaco’s dual identity as a glamorous playground for the wealthy and a principality deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, tasked with upholding moral responsibility in a complex, modern world. (AP)
