Visit of Pope Leo XIV to Monaco
MONACO – Pope Leo XIV made a notable visit to Monaco on Saturday, urging its residents to leverage their wealth, influence, and Catholic faith for positive purposes, particularly emphasizing the importance of preserving the sanctity of life within Catholic teachings.
This day trip marked a historic first, as no pope had visited Monaco since Pope Paul III in 1538. As the welcoming cannons fired, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene greeted the Pope at the helipad, which is conveniently located near the marina filled with luxurious megayachts.
At the palace, the royal family awaited in the courtyard, dressed in black attire and lace headpieces. Princess Charlene distinguished herself in white, a ceremonial privilege extended by the Vatican to Catholic monarchs during their audience with the Pope, referred to diplomatically as “le privilège du blanc.”
From the palace balcony, Leo encouraged Monaco to use its “gift of smallness” alongside its wealth and influence for good, stating, “This is especially important at a historical moment when the logic of show of power and repression is harming the world and endangering peace.”
Later, while addressing the congregation in French at the cathedral, he called upon the Catholics of Monaco to actively promote their faith, insisting that “the lives of all men and women are protected and promoted, from conception to natural death.”
This language is commonly used by the Vatican to articulate its opposition to abortion and euthanasia.
Monaco stands out as one of the few European nations where Catholicism is the official religion. Recently, Grand Duke Albert rejected a proposal to legalize abortion, underscoring the significant role of Catholicism in Monaco’s societal fabric.
While the decision may appear mostly symbolic, given that abortion remains a constitutional right in France, which includes the small coastal principality, it aligns Albert with other European Catholic royals opposed to secular trends. For example, during a visit to Belgium in 2024, Pope Francis chose to advance a late king’s candidacy for sainthood rather than endorse abortion legislation.
Monaco is known as a playground for the affluent, famous not only for its tax benefits and the Formula 1 Grand Prix but also for its glamorous royal family. Prince Albert, the son of the late actress Grace Kelly, spoke English fluently as he welcomed Leo at the helipad, even noting a slight delay in their arrival.
Leo’s single-day visit included interactions with Monaco’s Catholic community at the cathedral and a mass held at the sports stadium.
With a population of around 38,000, Monaco is predominantly Catholic and diverse, with only about one-fifth of its residents being actual citizens of the principality.
On this sunny spring day, numerous people assembled on the palace grounds to greet the Pope, while others lined the streets, waving Vatican and Monaco flags as the papal vehicle passed by.
