Principality of Monaco - Following his meeting with the princely family, Leo XIV’s morning in the Principality continued with a liturgical and pastoral moment at the heart of the apostolic visit. At 10:53, the Pontiff travelled by popemobile to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where at 11:07 he presided over the celebration of Midday Prayer with the local Catholic community.
At the foot of the monumental staircase, he was welcomed by two children bearing a floral tribute, together with Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène, and the Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David. At the cathedral entrance, the parish priest, Daniel Deltreuil, introduced the Pope, while three canons presented the cross and holy water for the aspersion. Leo XIV then proceeded along the central nave, accompanied by the choir, until he reached the altar. During the chanting of the office, the Pope offered a reflection that clearly outlined the contours of his ecclesial vision, centred on Christ as the “advocate” of humanity.
Recalling the First Letter of John – “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” – Leo XIV pointed to the mystery of redemption as the starting point for understanding the human condition. Human fragility, marked by sin, is not abandoned to itself: God enters history through the Son, who takes upon himself evil, carries it and overcomes it, transforming it. In this perspective, Christ does not appear as a judge who condemns, but as the one who reconciles, restoring humanity to its relationship with God and with others. The Pope focused first on the theme of communion. Christ’s intercession generates a unity that does not erase differences but brings them into harmony. He explicitly referred to the cosmopolitan character of the Principality of Monaco, marked by the coexistence of different nationalities and social conditions. In such a context, the Church is called to be a place where these differences do not become divisions, but find integration grounded in shared dignity. All, he observed, are recipients of the same grace and share in the same belonging.
The reference to Saint Paul - “all of you are one in Christ Jesus” - gave this vision a theological foundation with concrete implications: the Church as a space where no one is left on the margins, and where the full restoration of the person, even after sin or suffering, concerns not only individual conscience but also relationships and the life of the community.
The second point emphasised by the Pope was the proclamation of the Gospel as a defence of the human person. Leo XIV described a Church that assumes an active, almost juridical role in safeguarding the dignity of every individual. This is not an abstract task, but one requiring discernment within cultural, economic and social dynamics. In this light, evangelisation sheds light on human identity, the value of relationships and the purpose of existence, offering criteria to evaluate models of development and social structures. The Holy Father called for reflection on the moral profile of the economy and its real capacity to generate solidarity, without being reduced to a mechanism driven solely by profit. The reference to “integral development” placed his words within the framework of the Church’s social teaching, while highlighting the concrete responsibility borne by local communities. A particularly significant passage addressed the danger of a faith reduced to mere habit. Leo XIV instead called for a living faith, capable of raising questions and engaging critically with established assumptions. The criterion he proposed is clear: to verify whether the dignity of the person is truly protected, whether life is safeguarded at every stage, and whether social structures are genuinely ordered towards justice. Within this horizon lies also the invitation to rethink the language and tools of proclamation, taking seriously the digital dimension, and to pay particular attention to catechumens and those rediscovering the faith. This is not simply a communicative option, but a pastoral urgency shaped by ongoing change.
At the conclusion of the celebration, Leo XIV left the cathedral and travelled, again by popemobile, to the Church of Saint Devota, where he meets young people and catechumens.
fr.C.B.
Silere non possum