Principality of Monaco - The second Apostolic Journey of Leo XIV began in the early hours of the morning, bound for the Principality of Monaco. At 7:05, the Pope left the Apostolic Palace to reach the heliport, from where he departed by helicopter at 7:22. While flying over Italy, he sent a telegram to the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, expressing his wishes for the country’s «spiritual, civil and social progress». A similar gesture was addressed to France as he crossed its airspace, with a message to President Emmanuel Macron for the «peace and prosperity» of the nation. Landing took place at 9:03 at the Monaco heliport. Leo XIV was welcomed by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. Following the military honours - marked also by a 21-gun salute - and the presentation of the delegations, the Pope proceeded to the Prince’s Palace, where the official welcome ceremony was held.
Accompanying the Pontiff were also Paolo Ruffini, Matteo Bruni, Andrea Monda, Andrea Tornielli and Massimiliano Menichetti. Their presence, alongside that of Salvatore Cernuzio, raises questions about the actual necessity of such a large number of representatives linked to a single Dicastery, with costs that inevitably fall upon the Holy See. It remains unclear what specific contribution this composition offers to the coverage of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey. The question, therefore, remains open: for what reason was such a presence deemed necessary?
The welcome of the Successor of Peter
In the Cour d’Honneur, after the anthems and the inspection of the Guard, Leo XIV met the Princely Family. This was followed by a private meeting in the Salon de Famille, accompanied by the exchange of gifts and the official photographs. At the end, the Pope and the Prince appeared on the balcony to greet the people gathered in the Principality. It was here that Leo XIV delivered his first public address of the day, immediately setting out a framework for interpreting the visit. He recalled that his presence represents a historic event: he is the first Successor of Peter in modern times to visit Monaco. Yet the reference to this historical fact serves above all to introduce a broader reflection on the meaning of this State.
The Pope described the Principality as a reality «set among» the founding countries of Europe and marked by a «deep bond» with the Church of Rome. He did not, however, stop at a formal acknowledgement. Rather, he pointed to a responsibility: that of safeguarding a vocation to encounter in a time marked by «closure and self-sufficiency». The central passage concerns the very nature of Monaco. The «gift of smallness», affirmed Leo XIV, is not a limitation but a condition that entails commitment. In a global context shaped by competition and power, the Pope proposed a different logic: «the little ones make history». This is not a rhetorical formula but a theological key rooted in the Gospel. Faith, he clarified, does not remove historical responsibility; it demands it.
Attention then turned to the social composition of the Principality. Leo XIV spoke explicitly of a pluralistic community, in which a local minority coexists with a majority of residents from other countries, many of whom are engaged in significant economic and financial sectors. In this context, living in Monaco «represents a privilege» for some, but for all it becomes «a call». Here the Pope introduced one of the most incisive points of his address: the relationship between wealth and responsibility. Recalling the parable of the talents, he stated that nothing received can be withheld. «Every talent, every opportunity […] has a universal destination». Wealth, in the Christian perspective outlined by the Pontiff, cannot remain confined to a private dimension but must be placed in circulation. The reference becomes more concrete when Leo XIV speaks of the «structures of sin» and the «unjust configurations of power» that generate inequalities. The Pope does not avoid the issue of social fractures: «chasms between the poor and the rich, between the privileged and the discarded». Within this framework, the decisive criterion is that of the Gospel and of the Last Judgment: Christ identifies himself with the poor.
From this follows another consequence: the public responsibility of faith. Monaco, where Catholicism is the state religion, is called to be a presence that «does not cast down but raises up», capable of safeguarding every life and excluding no one. This vision is explicitly linked by the Pope to integral ecology and to the need to develop concrete practices inspired by the Social Doctrine of the Church. In the final part of his address, Leo XIV recalled Saint Paul VI to underline the link between truth and progress. Without a vision grounded in the human person and in reality, the path of society becomes uncertain. In a time in which, he observed, «many find it difficult to hope», faith is proposed as a light capable of guiding choices.
Thousands of faithful followed the passage of the popemobile through the streets of the city. The visit will continue with meetings with the Catholic community, young people and catechumens, concluding with the Holy Mass at the Louis II Stadium.
fr.V.E.
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