Pope Leo XIV has reaffirmed the Church’s Social Teaching as a vital foundation for peace, truth, and authentic coexistence in modern society, particularly as Europe faces growing moral and cultural fragmentation.
In a message sent to participants of the 2026 European Conference organized by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, the Pope addressed the gathering taking place in Luxembourg on January 23. The conference focused on the theme “Peace Building in Europe: What Role for Catholic Social Thought and Universal Values?”
According to Vatican News, the Pope’s message was signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and expressed strong support for the conference’s theme, which he described as especially timely amid a growing reluctance in society to engage with universal moral truths.
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Pope Leo XIV warned that this resistance is rooted in a deeper crisis, identifying “the spread of relativism and the reduction of truth to opinion” as a serious obstacle to peace. He emphasized that shared moral truths are not optional for social harmony, stating that no continent or community can “live in peace and thrive without commonly held truths that inform its norms and values,” according to Vatican News.
Grounding his message in Christian anthropology, the Pope recalled that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. He also cited Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical Centesimus Annus, which teaches that “no authentic progress is possible without respect for the natural and fundamental right to know the truth and live according to that truth,” according to the source.
The Holy Father stressed that Catholic Social Teaching flows directly from the life and mission of Jesus Christ, who revealed Himself as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Because of this foundation, he said, the Church’s Social Magisterium transcends national and political boundaries and offers something uniquely valuable to the world.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV explained that the Church’s social doctrine “goes beyond borders and provides a platform for collective interests and way of living, thus making peaceful coexistence possible.”
In closing, the Pope expressed hope that the Luxembourg conference would help Europe rediscover its Christian heritage and strengthen the role of Catholic values in shaping the future. He voiced his desire that such efforts would contribute to building “a more peaceful and just European continent,” according to Vatican News.
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