Pope Leo XIV praised Monaco on Saturday for remaining one of the few countries in the world with Catholicism as its state religion, using a rare visit to the principality to call for a stronger public witness to the faith and renewed commitment to human dignity.
“You are among the few countries in the world to have the Catholic faith as a state religion,” the pope said, urging Monaco to deepen its commitment to the Church’s social doctrine and promote its “transformative power.”
The visit marked the first papal trip to Monaco in centuries, with Pope Leo arriving by helicopter from Rome and greeted by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene at Monte Carlo’s heliport.
Speaking from the Prince’s Palace, the first U.S.-born pontiff linked Monaco’s Catholic identity to a duty to defend human life and promote fraternity. Christians, he said, are called to build “a kingdom of brothers and sisters” that “does not cast down but raises up” and protects “every human life … so that no one is ever excluded.”
The pope also addressed inequality in the wealthy Mediterranean microstate, warning against “unjust configurations of power” and “structures of sin” that create divisions “between poor and rich, between the privileged and the rejected.”
Within walking distance of Monaco’s casinos, Pope Leo said wealth should serve “law and justice,” particularly at a time when global conflicts and the “logic of omnipotence” threaten peace.
The visit drew thousands of spectators, with bells ringing across the principality and crowds gathering along the pope’s route. Around 5,000 people assembled outside the palace, while a larger crowd was expected later for a Mass at the Stade Louis II.
In meetings with Catholics and young people, Pope Leo also warned against reducing faith to mere custom, urging believers to defend human dignity “from conception to natural end.”
Monaco maintains close ties with the Holy See and has recently reaffirmed its Catholic identity in political decisions, including restrictions on abortion.
Prince Albert described the visit as “a powerful sign” of Monaco’s role within the Catholic world, while locals called it a historic moment for the small state.
