Pope Leo XIV addresses the Diplomatic Corps and encourages the ambassadors to pursue paths of peace with justice, truth and hope. 

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Leo XIV addressed members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See on Friday morning, just one week after his election to the See of Peter.

Marking his first address to the diplomatic community, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Ambassador George Poulides of Cyprus, the outgoing Dean of the Corps, praising his years of “energy, commitment and kindness,” as well as the esteem he earned from Pope Francis and previous Popes.

Turning then to the diplomatic representatives, the Pope reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to serve all humanity, describing the diplomatic community as a family “that shares the joys and sorrows of life” and is grounded in human and spiritual values. The Pope went on to note that in this family the Church does not seek priviliges but rather opportunities to build bridges, particularly through its distinctive form of diplomacy rooted in pastoral concern.