Pope Leo XIV has delivered a strong reminder to Catholic leaders in public life: values alone, without Christ, are not enough to transform society. Speaking to elected officials from the French department of Val-de-Marne, the Holy Father emphasized the need for political leaders to live their faith fully and without compromise.
According to Vatican News, the Pope told the delegation that “the salvation that Jesus obtained through His death and resurrection… encompasses all dimensions of human life, such as culture, the economy and work, family and marriage, respect for human dignity and life, health, as well as communication, education, and politics.” By rooting their mission in Christ, he said, politicians can bring Gospel light into every area of human life.
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Turning to Christ Amid Society’s Challenges
The Pope acknowledged the “excesses” of modern Western society, where Christ and the Church are often sidelined. In such circumstances, he urged leaders to look to the Lord as their guide: “Christians can do no better… than to turn to Christ and ask for His help in carrying out our responsibilities” (Vatican News). Embracing Christ, he explained, provides not only personal enrichment but also equips leaders to serve the common good more faithfully.
He also warned against a reduction of Christian witness to mere moral principles: “The promotion of ‘values,’ however evangelical they may be,” he cautioned, “if they are ‘emptied’ of Christ, are powerless to change the world” (Vatican News).
Living Faith Without Division
Recognizing the pressures that Christian politicians face, Pope Leo encouraged them to reject any divide between private belief and public duty. “For Christian politicians,” he said, “there can be no separation in their personality between their Christianity and their public role” (Vatican News). Instead, leaders are called to deepen their understanding of Catholic social teaching and put it into practice when drafting laws and serving their communities.
The Pope stressed that this teaching is not limited to believers but is grounded in natural law: “It is a doctrine of salvation that aims at the good of every human being and the building of peaceful, harmonious, prosperous, and reconciled societies” (Vatican News).
A Call to Courage
While recognizing that living the Gospel in political life is difficult, Pope Leo insisted that the task is both possible and necessary. He urged Catholic leaders to “strengthen yourselves in the faith” and never fear defending the truth with conviction, reminding them that their role is not only political but deeply spiritual.
His words stand as both encouragement and challenge: to lead not simply as politicians who happen to be Christian, but as Christians whose every decision in public life is shaped by the person of Christ.
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