The tiny republic of San Marino and the bustling city of Rimini became the stages for Pope Leo XIV’s impassioned calls for unity, peace, and dialogue in a world marked by division and conflict. During his visits, the pope addressed tens of thousands of people, urging them to embrace mercy, encounter, and a commitment to peace.
Pope Leo XIV’s journey began in San Marino, the world’s oldest surviving republic, where he reflected on the legacy of Saints Marino and Leone. He praised their vision of a society rooted in freedommutual respect and community values that continue to shape the republic today.
San Marino: A Model of Good Politics
The pope commended San Marino’s unique political system, which is governed by a 60-member parliament that elects two captains regent every six months. This power-sharing arrangement, designed to prevent the concentration of authority, serves as a model for public service and social cohesion in an era of growing division and distrust.
Pope Leo XIV described San Marino as a laboratory of good politics emphasizing the importance of upholding the dignity of every human person from conception to natural death. This language is commonly used by Vatican officials and Catholic leaders to express their opposition to abortion and euthanasia. In 2026, San Marino voters approved a referendum legalizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a significant shift in a country with deep Catholic roots.
While the pope did not directly address the referendum, he stressed the need for political, social, and economic systems to place human dignity at their center. He warned against models that present themselves as liberating but ultimately fail to serve the human person and the common good.
A Call for Mercy in a Divided World
Later, Pope Leo XIV addressed the annual Rimini Meeting, a major Catholic cultural festival organized by the Communion and Liberation movement. He urged Catholics to respond to a world marked by war, division, and inequality with dialogue, friendship, and encounter.
The pope argued that peace is built by people who love to encounter one another and are not afraid to engage with one another. He emphasized that human dignity must come before political, social, and ideological divisions. In some of his strongest comments to date on global tensions, he warned against a growing culture of confrontation and militarization.
Pope Leo XIV stated that Christians should recognize that there can be no enemies and that even opponents are a brother or sister to be looked in the eye and encountered in truth. He urged Catholics to challenge systems that fuel poverty, inequality, and conflict, stating, Let us expose unjust structures of power that lie at the root of poverty, inequality, war and environmental disasters.
The pope also encouraged Catholics to free work from the idolatry of profit and to disarm technological development whenever it becomes invasive and destructive. He portrayed young people as a source of hope, urging them not to be afraid to give themselves fully and to go forth to meet everyone.
Encouraging Young Catholics
A significant portion of the pope’s speech focused on young people, whom he portrayed as a source of hope at a time when many fear the future. He encouraged young Catholics to engage with society rather than retreat into closed communities, urging them: Do not be afraid to give yourselves fully! and Go forth to meet everyone!.
Echoing themes championed by his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo encouraged Catholics to embrace listening and dialogue, arguing that the church grows through the attraction of authentic witness rather than proselytism. He praised young Catholics, telling them they are a sign that the future is promising, and not a threat!.
Pope Leo XIV’s visits to San Marino and Rimini served as powerful reminders of the importance of dialogue, unity, and peace in a fractured world. His messages of hope and encouragement resonated with tens of thousands of people, inspiring them to embrace mercy, encounter, and a commitment to building a better future.
