His Holiness Pope Leo XIV Urges New Ambassadors to Contribute to 'Greatly-Needed Peace'
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addresses a group of non-resident Ambassadors to the Holy See, and expresses his wish that their mission may "strengthen dialogue, deepen mutual understanding, and contribute to the peace so greatly needed in our world."
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"No nation, no society, and no international order can call itself just and humane if it measures its success solely by power or prosperity while neglecting those who live at the margins. Indeed, Christ’s love for the least and the forgotten compels us to reject every form of selfishness that leaves the poor and the vulnerable invisible."
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV made this statement on Thursday morning in the Vatican when addressing new non-resident ambassadors from Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Yemen, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius, Chad, and Sri Lanka, accredited to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of their credential letters.
Read His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s Full Address
The Holy Father asked them to convey his respectful greetings to their Heads of State, together with the assurance of his prayers for them and their fellow citizens.
A vision for diplomatic unity
He said he was particularly pleased to receive them as the Church approaches the Solemnity of Pentecost, recalling how the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, transforming fear into courage and division into unity by enabling them to speak in the languages of all peoples.
"It is my hope," the Pope stated, "that a similar vision of unity may inspire the world of diplomacy, where constructive relations among nations flourish through genuine openness, the fostering of mutual respect, and a shared sense of responsibility."
Key to overcoming misunderstandings and restoring trust
In this regard, the Pope said he wished to renew the appeal he made when addressing members of the diplomatic corps in early January.
"In a time when 'peace is sought through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominion'," he reiterated, "there is an urgent need for a return to 'a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus' on all levels—bilateral, regional, and multilateral.'"
"Such dialogue, 'motivated by a sincere search for ways leading to peace,'" he said, "demands that words once again express clear realities without distortion or hostility."
Only in this way, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV underscored, can misunderstandings be overcome and trust be rebuilt in the context of international relations.
Dialogue requires a change of heart
While courteous and clear dialogue is essential, the Pope said, it "must be accompanied by a deeper conversion of heart: the willingness to set aside particular interests for the sake of the common good."
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV warned that if success is measured solely by power and prosperity, while neglecting those on the margins, no nation, society, or international order can truly call itself just and humane.
He stressed that Christ, with His love for the forgotten, calls us to reject all forms of selfishness that leave the vulnerable and poor invisible.
Strengthening international organizations
The Pope said that it is precisely this spirit of self-giving solidarity that must animate the service of diplomats and strengthen international organizations in order to create spaces for encounter and mediation.
"These institutions," he continued, "remain indispensable instruments for resolving disputes and fostering cooperation. At a moment when geopolitical tensions continue to fragment our world further, it is necessary to make them more representative, effective, and oriented toward the unity of the human family."
A valuable bridge of trust and cooperation
The Pope thanked the ambassadors for their service, which he emphasized "constitutes a valuable bridge of trust and cooperation" between their countries and the Holy See…
This report was originally published on the Website of Vatican News. Please click here to read the full text.