Pope Leo XIV issued one of his most passionate appeals against global conflict, polarization, and societal breakdown on Saturday, utilizing a visit to the microstate of San Marino and a massive Catholic gathering in Rimini, Italy, to champion dialogue and human connection.
Addressing tens of thousands of attendees in Rimini, the pontiff warned against a toxic cultural climate that “rearms minds, words and nations”. He urged Christians to counter this trend through acts of forgiveness, personal engagement, and an unwavering commitment to peace.
The American-born pope also delivered a message of hope to young Catholics in attendance. He assured them they are “a sign that the future is promising, and not a threat!”
Earlier in the day, Leo traveled to San Marino, recognized as the world’s oldest surviving republic. Meeting with local authorities, he reflected on the enduring legacy of Saints Marino and Leone, who helped establish a community grounded in liberty, mutual respect, and civic solidarity.
The pope noted that the two patron saints translated the Christian message into “a new community and political model, strongly characterized by the Christian principles of freedom, mutual respect and communion” — a foundational ethos he noted continues to shape the microstate.
Completely surrounded by Italy, the enclave nation of roughly 35,000 citizens dates back to the fourth century. Its governance relies on a 60-member parliament that elects two captains regent every six months to serve as joint heads of state—a constitutional mechanism designed to prevent the centralization of political power.
Holding up the microstate as an exemplar, Leo observed that small political bodies can offer valuable lessons in public service and social cohesion during an era marked by rising division and institutional mistrust.
Leo is only the third pontiff to visit San Marino, following pastoral trips by St. John Paul II in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. Praise was offered for a society “built on respect for one’s own freedom and that of others and above all on respect for the sacred Will of God.”
Warning of the threats facing modern civilization, Leo expressed concern over rising violence, social isolation, and self-serving ideologies that prioritize individual interests above the common good.
”We live in a world wounded by many conflicts,” the pope stated, calling on the faithful to respond with solidarity and care for the vulnerable.
Leo referred to San Marino as a “laboratory of good politics” and advocated for public institutions to safeguard human dignity “from conception to natural death”—a traditional phrase reflecting Church opposition to abortion and euthanasia.
In 2021, San Marino voters passed a historic referendum legalizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, overturning a centuries-old ban. Though Leo did not explicitly address the referendum, he repeatedly emphasized that all economic, political, and social framework structures must honor human dignity at their core, warning against systems that promise liberation yet fail to serve humanity.