Europe’s International Relevance Depends on Defense of Natural Law

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made her debut appearance as head of government at the annual Meeting of the Catholic movement Comunione e Liberazione, held in Rimini from August 22 to 27. Greeted with a prolonged standing ovation, Meloni delivered a nearly hour-long address that reviewed the accomplishments of her first three years in office and outlined the government’s priorities for the coming months. Her presence marked a significant political and symbolic moment at one of Italy’s most influential cultural and religious gatherings.

Among other things, Meloni asserted that she had restored to Italy “the place it deserves in the world: strong, proud, direct, loyal—in a word, authoritative,” especially in light of the increasingly marginal role of the European Union on the international stage. 

Echoing the analysis presented by Mario Draghi at the same meeting, Meloni stated that “Europe seems increasingly condemned to geopolitical irrelevance, unable to respond effectively to the competitive challenges posed by China and the United States.”

At the conclusion of her speech, the prime minister also suggested a path to overcome this irrelevance: “This [historical] phase of enormous transformation, in which the paradigms upon which the European Union was built have collapsed, and in which cynical autocracies challenge us daily, paradoxically offers a great opportunity—one we can seize only if the European Union is capable of rediscovering its soul and its roots, including its cultural and religious ones, which were shamefully denied years ago.”

The following day, at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV received a French delegation of political figures in audience. His speech was particularly noteworthy, as it aligned perfectly with the diagnosis offered by the Italian Prime Minister just hours earlier.

Leo XIV’s address can be summarized in five key points and serves as a true compass for European political life—especially in the current moment.

First, it is a grave mistake to think that a politician can separate himself from being a Christian man. Faith is not a garment worn only in private life, but a principle that informs every decision—even public ones. A Catholic in politics must never deny his identity nor live in a state of schizophrenia between conscience and action.

Second, the Christian politician is guided by reflection and study, not short-term gain. He draws on the Church’s Social Doctrine to pursue political action rooted in justice and the true common good—understood as the well-being of all, not just the state, party, or majority.

Third, the Christian politician knows, respects, and defends natural law—that order inscribed in the human heart and recognizable by reason. Without this law, no political or legal system can be considered legitimate, as it would lack its moral foundation.

Fourth, natural law is not the exclusive heritage of Christians. It is universal, and for that reason can be recognized as true by every person, even non-believers. “We must not be afraid to propose and defend it with conviction,” the Pontiff emphasized, “for it is a doctrine of salvation aimed at the good of every human being, and at the building of peaceful, harmonious, prosperous, and reconciled societies.”

Fifth, the Christian politician is never a man of easy compromise. He knows that there are points on which one cannot yield, because what is at stake is the truth about man. In the face of unjust laws or ideologies that deny human dignity, the Christian must have the courage to oppose them—even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

In light of these principles, one could say that Leo XIV has laid out with disarming clarity what Europe’s political mission should be today: to present itself as an international model for the defense of natural law, offering an alternative path to the two dominant poles of our time—on one side, liberal Atlanticism marked by individualistic relativism; on the other, Chinese authoritarianism, which sacrifices the individual on the altar of the state apparatus.

This is not conservative rhetoric, but an urgent appeal. The historical trajectory of Europe, as it has unfolded thus far, has led inevitably to increasingly strong and binding agreements with Beijing—agreements that risk reducing Europe to an appendage of Asia, and more specifically, of the so-called Middle Kingdom.

Today, Communist China attracts and forges new international alliances not because it offers an effective, human-centered political model, but because its economic and technological strength is impressive and promises enticing prospects for numerous emerging states—such as India, Pakistan, various African nations, and others that are increasingly unwilling to accept the United States as the sole global reference point.

A European model founded on natural law could represent the true alternative to this, offering the Union not only renewed political dignity but also a concrete opportunity to compete with China on three levels. 

First, on the moral and diplomatic front. Natural law would restore to Europe a universal language—one capable of speaking to all peoples because it is rooted in the truth of the human person, not in fleeting ideologies. In a world increasingly torn by conflict and mistrust, a Europe that bears witness to justice, fairness, respect for human dignity, and fundamental rights could position itself as a credible interlocutor, able to mediate where major powers pursue only partisan interests.

Second, Europe would benefit in terms of social and demographic stability. Faced with current challenges such as declining birth rates, family fragmentation, loss of community spirit, and the false solution of unregulated immigration (which is inexorably transforming Europe into an Islamic power), a policy rooted in natural law would promote the family and support new life. In contrast, China—despite its economic strength—is now paying the price for its one-child policy.

Finally, and no less importantly, on the economic front. Prosperity does not arise from mere technical calculation, but from a legal and cultural order that fosters creativity, cooperation, and responsibility. Natural law, by recognizing and protecting the rights and duties inscribed in the human heart, creates fertile ground for a healthy economy and a society based on subsidiarity—where problems are solved by the closest authority, not by a centralized power.

If China attracts with the dystopian promise of greater control, Europe could once again become attractive by presenting itself as a civilization capable of uniting prosperity and dignity. This would be the true geopolitical challenge of the 21st century: to show that an order founded on natural law is not only aligned with human nature, but also the most effective means of building a stable and prosperous future. Sustainable, as we like to say these days.