Pope Leo XIV is calling on world leaders, law enforcement officials, and families to defend human dignity while confronting the growing threats of organized crime and illegal drug trafficking.
Speaking Friday to participants at the Second Inter-parliamentary Conference on the Fight against Drugs and Organized Crime, the Holy Father stressed that societies cannot survive without justice rooted in truth, law, and respect for the human person. According to Vatican News, the conference was organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which includes nations from Europe, North America, and Central Asia.
The Pope warned that criminal organizations and the spread of illicit drugs are placing the future of societies at risk. He emphasized that governments must uphold the rule of law while protecting the dignity of every human being.
“No truly just society can endure unless the law—and not the arbitrary will of individuals—remains sovereign,” Pope Leo said, according to Vatican News. He added that “no person or group, regardless of power or status, may ever claim the right to violate the dignity and rights of others or of their communities.”
The Holy Father urged law enforcement and public institutions to work together to stop criminal activity without abandoning universal human rights. He also emphasized that justice must involve more than punishment alone.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo said true justice requires perseverance, mercy, and efforts to reintegrate criminals back into society whenever possible. He strongly rejected practices that violate human dignity, declaring that respect for every person “precludes the use of the death penalty, torture, and every form of cruel or degrading punishment.”
The Pope also addressed the devastating effects of addiction, calling for compassionate and comprehensive care for those suffering from drug dependency. He encouraged programs that provide medical treatment, psychological support, and rehabilitation instead of relying solely on harsh punishment or permissive attitudes toward drug use.
Former addicts, he said, can rediscover their “God-given dignity” through a balanced and humane approach.
Pope Leo placed special emphasis on the role of parents and schools in protecting young people from drugs and dangerous misinformation online. According to Vatican News, he warned that social media frequently spreads messages that minimize or normalize the dangers of narcotics.
“When social media so often disseminates dangerous misinformation that trivializes these risks,” the Pope said, “education must begin within the family and be strengthened in the school.”
He added that young people must be taught the “ruinous effects of narcotics upon the brain, the body, personal conduct and the common good of the community.”
The Holy Father also praised police officers, judges, and public officials who risk their lives fighting organized crime and protecting society from violence and corruption.
In closing, Pope Leo pledged the Catholic Church’s continued support for those battling addiction and suffering because of criminal networks. He said the Church and civil society must work together to build policies centered on the common good and the dignity of every human person.
“Together, in a spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility,” Pope Leo said, according to Vatican News, “we can promote policies that truly serve the common good and the inalienable dignity of every human being.”
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