Fri May 16 11:16:17 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, addressed world diplomats at the Vatican, reaffirming traditional Catholic teachings on marriage and abortion. He emphasized the family as a union between a man and a woman and the dignity of all life, from the unborn to the elderly. He called for renewed multilateral diplomacy, interreligious dialogue, and a commitment to peace, stressing that peace requires active effort beyond the absence of conflict. He advocated for building peaceful societies by investing in families and respecting the dignity of every person. This contrasts with his past views on LGBTQ+ people, though he did recently call for a more inclusive church.
**News Article:**
**Pope Leo XIV Affirms Traditional Values, Calls for Peace in First Diplomatic Address**
*Vatican City, May 16, 2025* – In his first address to the Vatican diplomatic corps, Pope Leo XIV, the first American to hold the papacy, underscored the importance of traditional Catholic teachings on marriage and the sanctity of life. Speaking in Vatican City on Friday, Pope Leo affirmed the family as founded on “the stable union between a man and a woman” and reiterated the Church’s position on the dignity of all individuals, “from the unborn to the elderly.”
Beyond doctrinal pronouncements, Pope Leo used the occasion to advocate for a revival of multilateral diplomacy and the promotion of dialogue between religions as a means of achieving lasting peace. He emphasized that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a “gift” that requires proactive effort, including curbing arms production and carefully choosing words to avoid incitement.
“In addition, no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike,” he said.
The address comes ahead of Pope Leo’s formal installation Mass on Sunday. While he strongly reconfirmed core Catholic teaching opposing abortion and euthanasia, as the then-head of the Augustinian order, the Reverend Robert Prevost in 2012 criticised the “homosexual lifestyle” and the role of mass media in promoting acceptance of same-sex relationships. A decade later, during Pope Francis’ pontificate, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ call for a more inclusive church, and said he didn’t want people excluded just on the basis of their lifestyle.
The Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with over 180 countries and holds observer status at the United Nations. The Pope’s address is seen as a significant indication of the direction his papacy will take.
First Piper 