Pope Leo XIV distances himself from his predecessor's policies and outlines new tactics

In his first address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, Pope León XIV clearly outlined the priorities that will shape his pontificate in the area of international relations.

With a warm and firm tone, he expressed gratitude for the displays of affection received after his election and for the condolences following the passing of Pope Francis. He emphasized the importance of dialogue as a great family of nations, guided by shared human and spiritual values, and stressed that pontifical diplomacy doesn't seek privileges but rather seeks to serve humanity from a pastoral vocation.

León XIV focused his message on three essential principles that will guide his diplomatic action: peace, justice, and truth.

In his address, he marked a clear distance from the progressivism of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and adopted a more conservative tone on key issues. He reaffirmed the centrality of the traditional family, defined as the stable union between a man and a woman, and underscored the need to protect human life from conception to natural death.

He also avoided explicit references to topics such as the inclusion of LGBT+ people or reforms within the Church, instead highlighting the defense of religious freedom and criticism of the culture of relativism.

León XIV emphasized a vision of peace based on moral and spiritual order, rather than on sociopolitical structures. His invocation of León XIII's legacy, known for his conservative social doctrine, reinforces his doctrinal approach.

Although he promotes international dialogue, he does so from a firm stance on traditional principles, which indicates a reorientation of the Vatican toward a more classical vision of its role in the world.

The Pope highlighted that peace should not be understood solely as the absence of war, but as an active gift that commits everyone. He criticized the tendency to live in a constant state of conflict, in personal, social, and political life, and called for building peace from the heart, eradicating pride, moderating language, and cultivating a disposition toward encounter rather than confrontation.

He emphasized the crucial role of religions and interreligious dialogue in creating contexts of peace, which requires guaranteeing religious freedom in all countries. In that regard, he called for a renewal of multilateral diplomacy and of international institutions, created to prevent and solve conflicts.

Inspired by León XIII, Pope León XIV reaffirmed the Church's commitment to social justice. He pointed out that peace can only be achieved if justice is practiced, which implies addressing the deep social, economic, and labor imbalances that fragment societies.

He urged governments to invest in the family as the essential cell of society and to always protect human dignity, from the unborn child to the most vulnerable, including migrants and the unemployed.

Finally, León XIV underscored that without truth there can be no genuinely peaceful relations. He criticized ambiguous language and the dominance of distorted perceptions in the digital world, which hinder honest communication. The Church, he stated, can't renounce speaking the truth about man and the world, even when this may generate misunderstandings.