Pope Leo XIV denounced that in this historical moment, “the ostentation of force and the logic of wrongdoing harm the world and threaten peace,” during his speech to the authorities on his visit to the Principality of Monaco. In his first speech from the balcony of the Prince's Palace, after meeting with Albert II, Leo XIV affirmed that this country, located “among the founders of European unity,” has a vocation for encounter and social friendship, currently threatened by an atmosphere of closure and self-sufficiency. In this small state, where he will stay for only nine hours, the pontiff emphasized that “a living spiritual heritage” must commit its wealth to the service of law and justice, especially in a context where wrongdoing and force put world peace at risk. From the balcony, alongside Albert II and Charlene, Leo XIV highlighted that Monaco is home to a majority of foreign citizens, many of them with influence in the economic and financial spheres. He added that living in this country “represents a privilege and a responsibility to reflect on one's place in the world.” Monaco, considered the country with the highest concentration of millionaires, has over a third of its 39,000 inhabitants with assets exceeding one million dollars, in addition to being a tax haven with no income tax and one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. In this context, the Pope stated that “every talent and every good has a universal destiny and must be redistributed to improve the lives of all.” Therefore, he insisted on the need to share and to place the poor at the center. He also recalled that Monaco is one of the few countries with Catholicism as the state religion, which “does not crush, but liberates and unites.” The pontiff also praised the principality's and Albert II's commitment to integral ecology. After the speech, the Pope will sign the Golden Book in the Hall of Mirrors, and after the presentation of the family in the Guard Room, the Prince will show the palace's historical frescoes. Finally, both will go to the chapel for a moment of reflection.
