Pope Leo XIV called for a culture of love and mercy to overcome narratives that create enemies and drive nations toward rearmament and a “culture of power.”
Speaking 22 August to thousands gathered for the annual Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy, the pope urged people to challenge suspicion, arrogance and ideology while rejecting the “idolatry of profit” and the destructive uses of technology and finance.
He also called for exposing unjust structures of power that contribute to poverty, inequality, war and environmental disasters. Technological development, he said, should be restrained when it becomes invasive or destructive.
Pope Leo said the world needs “courageous pioneers” willing to take the first step toward change by changing the direction of their own lives. His speech, repeatedly interrupted by applause, was the centerpiece of a daylong visit to Italy’s Adriatic coast.
The pope first travelled to the Republic of San Marino, where he visited the small nation before heading to Rimini. There, he celebrated Mass and attended the gathering organised by the Catholic lay movement Communion and Liberation.
It was only the second time a pope has attended the event in person since its launch in 1980.
