Pope Leo XIV Praises San Marino as Model of Freedom

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday hailed the Republic of San Marino as a model of political freedom and civic responsibility during a one-day visit to the world's oldest surviving republic Source: AP News. Addressing local authorities, he praised its centuries-old republican traditions while warning against systems that place power above the human person Source: AP News.

The Visit

The pope was welcomed by Captains Regent Alice Mina and Vladimiro Selva, who are elected every six months Source: TVP Info. He spoke in the chamber of the Grand and General Council and later blessed the faithful from the balcony of the Palazzo Pubblico, recalling the 1982 visit of John Paul II Source: Euronews.

Key Messages

• Leo described San Marino as a "laboratory of good politics," where Catholic social doctrine can inform public life without compromising the secular nature of the state Source: Euronews.
• He stressed that "there is no true civil liberty without personal liberty," linking freedom to the dignity of the human person Source: TVP Info.
• The pope called for "esteem for diplomacy and multilateralism" and opposed "power politics" that trample international humanitarian law Source: Euronews.

Context and Reactions

Leo is the third pope to visit San Marino, following John Paul II in 1982 and Benedict XVI in 2011 Source: AP News. His visit comes as San Marino prepares for its Association Agreement with the European Union to become operational Source: Euronews.

While Leo did not directly address the 2021 referendum legalizing abortion, he used language about dignity "from conception to natural death," which is commonly interpreted as opposition to abortion Source: AP News. The visit also included a stop in Rimini for the Communion and Liberation Meeting, where he aimed to relaunch his message of peace Source: Euronews.