Pope Leo XIV decries the widening gap between the rich and poor in historic Monaco visit

Pope Leo XIV Addresses Wealth Divide During Monaco Visit

During his brief visit to Monaco on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV called attention to the growing disparity between wealth and poverty, urging the principality’s citizens to leverage their resources and Catholic heritage to advance social justice. The pontiff’s one-day trip marked the first papal visit to the cosmopolitan Mediterranean principality since Paul III in 1538, drawing global interest as he emphasized the need to protect the sanctity of life.

At the Monaco heliport, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene greeted the pope, symbolizing the royal family’s role in hosting the historic event. The visit began with a ceremony at the palace, where members of the royal family stood in the courtyard, clad in traditional black attire with lace head coverings. Charlene’s choice of white was a nod to the Vatican’s protocol privilege, “le privilège du blanc,” granted to Catholic sovereigns when meeting popes.

In his opening address from the palace balcony, the pope highlighted Monaco’s unique position, encouraging its people to use their “gift of smallness” — a reference to the principality’s compact size — as a tool for positive change. “Especially at a historical moment when the display of power and the logic of oppression are harming the world and jeopardising peace,” he stressed, underscoring the moral responsibility of the wealthy to address societal inequities.

“So that the life of every man and woman may be defended and promoted from conception until natural death,” the pontiff proclaimed during a French-language Mass at the cathedral, aligning with Catholic teachings that oppose abortion and euthanasia.

Monaco, one of the few European nations where Catholicism is the official religion, remains a stronghold of traditional values. Prince Albert recently rejected a proposal to legalise abortion, citing the religion’s deep influence on Monegasque society. While abortion is constitutionally protected in France — Monaco’s neighboring country — the decision to maintain restrictions in the principality carries symbolic weight, reflecting its commitment to Catholic doctrine on a continent increasingly shaped by secularism.

The pope’s itinerary included a gathering with Monaco’s Catholic community and a Mass held in the Louis II stadium. With a population of 38,000, the principality is predominantly Catholic and ethnically diverse, though only a fifth of its residents are actual citizens. The visit underscored the intersection of faith, wealth, and global responsibility in a world grappling with widening inequality.