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This morning, in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the participants in the Jubilee of Italian Diplomacy, to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Dear Minister,

Your Reverend Excellency,

Your Excellencies,,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am particularly pleased to greet you and to welcome you today, on the occasion of this Jubilee of Italian Diplomacy. Your pilgrimage to the Holy Door qualifies this meeting of ours, and allows me to share the hope we carry in our hearts and wish to bear witness to our neighbours. This virtue, in fact, does not concern a vague desire for uncertain things, but is the name that the will takes when it firmly strives for the good and justice that it feels is lacking.

Hope offers, then, a valuable meaning for the service you perform: in diplomacy, only those who truly hope always seek and support dialogue between the parties, trusting in mutual understanding even in the face of difficulties and tensions. Since we hope to understand each other, we strive to do so by seeking the best ways and words to reach agreement. In this regard, it is significant that pacts and treaties are sealed by an agreement: this closeness of heart – ad cor – expresses the sincerity of gestures, such as a signature or a handshake, which would otherwise be reduced to procedural formalities. This is a characteristic feature that distinguishes authentic diplomatic mission from self-interested calculations or from the balance between rivals who hide their respective differences.

Dear friends, to resist such tendences, let us look to the example of Jesus, whose witness of reconciliation and peace shines as a hope for all peoples. In the name of the Father, the Son speaks with the strength of the Holy Spirit, beacon of hope for all peoples. In the name of the Father, the Son speaks with the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing about dialogue between God and humankind. Therefore, all of us, made in God’s image, experience in dialogue, listening and speaking, the fundamental relationships of our existence.

It is not a coincidence that we call our native language our mother tongue , that which expresses the culture of our homeland, our fatherland, uniting the people like a family. In its own language, every nation attests to a specific understanding of the world, its loftiest values as well as its most everyday customs. Words are the common heritage through which the roots of the society we inhabit flourish. In a multi-ethnic environment, it therefore becomes essential to take care of dialogue, promoting mutual and intercultural understanding as a sign of welcome, integration and fraternity. At the international level, this same style can bear the fruits of cooperation and peace, provided that we persevere in educating our way of speaking.

Only when a person is honest, in fact, do we say that they are “true to their word”, because they keep it as a sign of constancy and fidelity, without changing their mind. In the same way, a person is consistent when they do what they say: their word is the good pledge they give to those who listen to them, and the value of the word given shows how much the person who says it is worth.

In particular, Christians are always people of the Word: the Word they hear from God, first and foremost, responding in prayer to his fatherly call. When we were baptised, the sign of the Cross was traced on our ears, saying, “ Ephphatha ”, meaning “Be opened”. In that gesture, which recalls the healing performed by Jesus, the sense through which we receive the first words of affection and the indispensable cultural elements that sustain our life, in the family and in society, is blessed.

Like the senses and the body, language must also therefore be educated, precisely in the school of listening and dialogue. Being both authentic Christians and honest citizens means sharing a vocabulary capable of telling things as they are, without duplicity, cultivating harmony among people. Therefore, it is our and your commitment, especially as Ambassadors, always to encourage dialogue and to re-establish it whenever it is interrupted.

In an international context wounded by violations and conflicts, let us remember that the opposite of dialogue is not silence, but offence. Indeed, where silence opens up to listening and welcomes the voice of those who stand before us, offense is a verbal aggression, a war of words armed with lies, propaganda and hypocrisy.

Let us strive with hope to disarm proclamations and speech, taking care not only of their beauty and precision, but first and foremost honesty and prudence. Those who know what to say do not need many words, but only the right ones: let us therefore practise sharing words that do good, choosing words that build understanding, and bearing witness to words that repair wrongs and forgive offences. Those who tire of dialogue tire of hoping for peace. In this regard, ladies and gentlemen, I recall with you the heartfelt appeal that Saint Paul VI addressed to the United Nations Assembly exactly sixty years ago. What unites men, my venerable Predecessor noted, is a pact sealed with “an oath that ought to change the future history of the world: never again war, never again war! It is peace, peace that has to guide the destiny of the nations of all mankind!” ( Address to the United Nations , 5). Yes, peace is the duty that unites humanity in the common quest for justice. Peace is the intention that, from the night of Christmas accompanies the entire life of Christ, up to the Pasch of his death and resurrection. Peace is the definitive and eternal good that we hope for everyone.

In order to preserve and promote true peace, be men and women of dialogue, wise in reading the signs of the times according to that code of Christian humanism that is at the basis of Italian and European culture. Wishing you all the best for the service you are called to perform, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to you and your families.

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Bishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops;

- Participants in the living Nativity Scene of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major;

- Dr. Jan Beagle, director general of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO);

- Archbishop Orlando Brandes, metropolitan of Aparecida, Brazil, and entourage;

- Organizers and performers of the “Christmas Concert”;

- Participants in the Jubilee of Italian Diplomacy;

- Mr. George Weigel;

- His Eminence Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, metropolitan of Québec, Canada.

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the organizers and performers of the Christmas Concert in the Vatican, promoted by Missioni Don Bosco and the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation, which is accompanying this initiative.

The following is the greeting addressed by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

 

Greeting of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters,

I greet you with gratitude on the occasion of the Christmas Concert , a traditional event that for thirty-three years now has celebrated the mystery of the Birth of Jesus through the universal languages of music and entertainment. “Oh night divine”, as we have heard.

I extend a warm welcome to all the artists who will be performing today; I greet the Missioni Don Bosco , which promote the Concert; I thank the organizers, the sponsors and the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation, which is accompanying this initiative.

Tonight we will listen to melodies born in different contexts, linked to different stories, generations and sensibilities. And yet, as happens in the night sky, these lights of sound will compose, in harmony, a common constellation which, as such, is not only a design but a guide.

Music is born from everyday life, accompanying our movements, our memories and our hardships: it is a shared diary that preserves everyone's feelings – nostalgia, desire, expectation, bewilderment, rebirth – recounting our journey with simplicity and, at the same time, in a profound way.

Christmas, after all, reminds us that God chooses a human setting to reveal himself. He does not use impressive scenery, but a simple home; he does not show himself from afar, but draws near; he does not remain in an inaccessible place in heaven, but reaches us in the very heart of our little stories. In this way, he reveals to us that everyday life – just as it is – can become the place where we encounter him.

This Christmas Concert supports a Salesian missionary project in the Republic of Congo: the construction of a primary school capable of accommodating 350 children. This too can make us reflect, reminding us that beauty, when it is authentic, does not remain closed in on itself, but generates choices of responsibility for the care of the world. In this way, culture becomes a breath of dignity for all, especially the most fragile.

I therefore invite you to live this moment as an inner pilgrimage. On the occasion of Christmas, may music be the place of the soul: a space where the heart finds its voice, bringing us closer to God and making our humanity ever more inspired by his love. This is my wish for you, as I invoke the Lord's blessing upon you all.

Enjoy the concert, and Merry Christmas!

This morning, in the Hall of Blessings, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the participants in the living Nativity Scene of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, and the Nativity Scene makers, to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning, welcome!

I greet His Eminence Cardinal Makrickas and all of you who today will bring to life the “Living Nativity Scene” of Saint Mary Major.

You have come from various places to bring to the Tomb of Peter the witness of the thousand faces with which, for centuries, generations of Christians have represented the Mystery of the Incarnation, often with the features of their own culture and the landscapes of their own land. From here, you will then pass through the Holy Door and celebrate the Eucharist in the Liberian Basilica, known as the “Bethlehem of the West”, where the Holy Crib is venerated.

It was this ancient relic, together with his journey to the Holy Land, that inspired Saint Francis, in 1223, to celebrate the “Nativity of Greccio” for the first time, marking the beginning of the tradition of the Nativity scene. Since then, the custom of depicting the Nativity of the Lord, of the God who “comes without weapons, without force ... to overcome pride, violence, and the human desire to possess ... and lead us to our true identity” (Benedict XVI, Catechesis , 23 December 2009) has spread throughout the world in many different ways.

Pope Francis said that, before the Nativity scene, “as we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman” (Apostolic Letter Admirabile signum , 1 December 2019, 1). This is precisely how it is: from the grotto of Bethlehem, where Mary, Joseph and the Child lie in their disarming poverty, we set out again to begin a new life in Christ’s footsteps. You bear witness to this in the afternoon, with the procession that will wind its way through the streets of the city. With its choreography, costumes and music, it will be a joyful sign of how beautiful it is to be disciples of Jesus, God made man, the sun that rises “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace” ( Lk 1:79).

This makes you – today, but also always, as a mission for your daily life – pilgrims of hope, bearers of consolation and inspiration for all those you meet: for young and old, for families, young people and the elderly whom you will encounter on your journey; for those who rejoice and those who suffer, for those who are alone, for those who feel in their hearts the desire to love and be loved, and for those who, even with difficulty, continue to work with commitment and perseverance to build a better world.

The Nativity scene, dear friends, is an important sign: it reminds us that we are part of a wondrous adventure of Salvation in which we are never alone but, as Saint Augustine said, “God became man, so that man might become God … so that the human inhabitants of earth might become inhabitants of heaven” ( Sermon 371, 1). Spread this message and keep this tradition alive. They are a gift of light for our world, which so badly needs to be able to continue to hope. Thank you, thank you all so much for your commitment! I warmly bless you and your families. Merry Christmas!

This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the members of the Information System for the Security of the Republic.

The following are the words of greeting addressed by the Pope to those present:

 

Greeting of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

 

Distinguished Authorities,

Brothers and sisters!

I am pleased to welcome you on this centenary of the establishment of the Italian intelligence service. It was in 1925 that the Military Information Service was set up, laying the foundations for a more coordinated and effective system to protect national security.

First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for the work you do, which requires competence, transparency and confidentiality. It invests you with the serious responsibility of constantly monitoring the dangers that could threaten the life of the nation, in order to contribute above all to the protection of peace. It is a demanding job, which, due to its confidential nature, often runs the risk of being exploited, but which is of great importance in anticipating any scenarios that could be dangerous to the life of society.

Over the course of these hundred years, many things have changed, capabilities and tools have become much more sophisticated, and the challenges facing our societies have increased and diversified. In this regard, I would urge you to carry out your work not only with professionalism, but also with an ethical perspective that takes into account at least two essential aspects: respect for human dignity and the ethics of communication .

Firstly, respect for human dignity . Security activities must never lose sight of this fundamental dimension and must never fail to respect the dignity and rights of each individual. In certain difficult circumstances, when the common good seems more important than anything else, there is a risk of forgetting this ethical requirement, and therefore it is not always easy to find a balance. As the European Commission for Democracy through Law has stated, security agencies often have to collect information on individuals and therefore have a significant impact on individual rights. [1]

It is therefore necessary that limits be established, according to the criterion of human dignity, and that we remain vigilant against the temptations to which a job like yours exposes you. Ensure that your actions are always proportionate to the common good to be pursued and that the protection of national security always and in all cases guarantees people’s rights, their private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial. In this sense, the activities of the services must be governed by laws that are duly promulgated and published, subject to the control and supervision of the judiciary, and their budgets must be subject to public and transparent controls.

The second aspect concerns the ethics of communication . The world of communications has changed notably in recent decades and, today, the digital revolution is something that simply forms part of our life and of how we exchange information and interact with each other. Furthermore, the advent of new and increasingly advanced technologies offers us greater possibilities but, at the same time, exposes us to constant dangers. The massive and continuous exchange of information requires us to be critically aware of certain issues of vital importance: the distinction between truth and fake news, the undue exposure of private life, the manipulation of the most vulnerable, the logic of blackmail, and incitement to hatred and violence.

Strict vigilance is required to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail or discredit politicians, journalists or other civil society actors. All this also applies to the ecclesial sphere. In fact, in several countries, the Church is the victim of intelligence services that act for nefarious purposes, oppressing its freedom. These risks must always be assessed and require a high moral stature in those who are preparing to do a job like yours and in those who have been doing it for some time.

I am well aware of the delicate role and responsibility to which you are called. In this regard, I would also like to remember those of your colleagues who have lost their lives in delicate missions carried out in difficult contexts. Their dedication may not make the headlines, but it lives on in the people they helped and in the crises they helped to resolve.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the efforts of the Italian intelligence services in ensuring the security of the Holy See and Vatican City State. And here I would like to express my gratitude for your collaboration with the Gendarmerie, with the Vatican, the Holy See, in so many services, where this ability and opportunity to serve others truly becomes a reality thanks to our good collaboration with you.

I encourage you to continue your work, always keeping in mind the common good, learning to assess the various situations that arise before you with judgement and balance, and remaining firmly anchored to those legal and ethical principles that place the dignity of the human person above all else.

Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you on your choice to live the Jubilee together as a working community. God’s grace will not fail to bear good fruit on a personal level and, consequently, also in your work. This is my wish, which I accompany with my apostolic blessing for you and your families. I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

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[1]  Cf. Venice Commission,  Report on the Democratic oversight of the Security Services  (1-2 June 2007), § 2.