By Our Correspondent
National News – Pope Leo XIV on Saturday condemned the growing divide between rich and poor during a historic visit to Monaco, the world-famous playground for millionaires.
Arriving by helicopter from Rome, the US-born pontiff was warmly received by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene at Monte Carlo’s heliport.
Speaking from the balcony of the Prince’s Palace, Leo warned against “structures of sin that dig chasms between poor and rich, between the privileged and the rejected, between friends and enemies.”
He emphasized that wealth should promote law, justice, and peace amid ongoing global conflicts.
The pontiff’s visit marks his first western European trip and highlights Monaco’s unique role in European Catholicism.
Leo addressed environmental protection, Monaco’s European engagement, and “the protection of life in all its forms,” touching on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and international conflicts.
Bells rang across the principality as locals waved flags of Monaco and the Vatican along the Popemobile route on Rue Grimaldi.
Shopkeepers decorated windows to honor the visit, and thousands of residents and tourists attended events at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of Saint Devota.
The Pope’s visit also symbolized the enduring connection between Monaco and the Holy See. Prince Albert called it a “powerful sign” of the principality’s importance in the Catholic world, sharing common goals of international solidarity and peace promotion.
Despite Monaco having only eight percent practicing Catholics, church gatherings bring together billionaires, workers, and visitors, showcasing unity across social divides.
Small business owners, like jeweler Isabel Fissore, described the papal presence as historic, noting the symbolic collaboration of two small states promoting global peace, light, and love.
Pope Leo’s Monaco visit underscores the need for justice, equality, and environmental stewardship while fostering interfaith and international dialogue.
The open-air mass at Louis II Stadium is expected to draw 15,000 attendees, further emphasizing the pontiff’s call for solidarity and moral responsibility.
