Vatican City, May 17, 2025 — In his first major public statement since ascending to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV on Friday affirmed the Catholic Church’s longstanding teachings on the sanctity of life and the traditional structure of the family.
Speaking during his inaugural meeting with the Vatican diplomatic corps, Pope Leo declared that the family is “founded on the stable union between a man and a woman,” reinforcing the Church’s position on marriage. He further emphasized that both the unborn and the elderly possess inherent dignity as creations of God, offering a firm stance on issues surrounding abortion and end-of-life ethics.
The address came just two days ahead of his formal installation Mass on Sunday, a traditional moment of international significance. The gathering with ambassadors and envoys from over 180 countries is part of Vatican protocol following the election of a new pope, allowing global representatives to meet the leader of the Catholic Church and head of state of the Holy See, which holds observer status at the United Nations.
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Pope Leo XIV, the first American ever elected to the papacy and a member of the Augustinian order, used the occasion to outline his vision for the Church’s role on the global stage. In addition to reaffirming doctrinal positions, he issued a call for the revival of multilateral diplomacy and the promotion of interfaith dialogue, particularly in the pursuit of global peace.
“Peace be with you all,” he began—words that echoed his first blessing to the world from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica immediately after his election. The message underscores what he has declared a central priority of his pontificate: reconciliation and peace in a fractured world.
Leo’s remarks are expected to shape the tone of his early leadership, signaling continuity in doctrine alongside renewed engagement in diplomacy and global interreligious cooperation.
The new pope’s address comes at a time of growing global tension and cultural debate, positioning the Vatican as both a moral voice and a diplomatic actor on the world stage.
