Pope Leo XIV on Saturday lauded the Republic of San Marino as a paragon of political freedom and civic responsibility, drawing on its long republican history to critique modern systems that prioritize power over human dignity.
During a one-day visit to the world's oldest surviving republic, the pontiff emphasized the principles of freedom, mutual respect, and community that he attributed to its founders, Saints Marino and Leone. He stated that these Christian principles have shaped the republic into a society rooted in respect for individual liberty and the divine will.
San Marino, a nation of approximately 35,000 people encircled by Italy, dates back to the fourth century. Its governance includes a 60-member parliament that appoints two captains regent every six months to act as joint heads of state, a system designed to distribute authority and prevent its consolidation.
The pope suggested that smaller political entities like San Marino can offer valuable insights into public service and social cohesion, particularly in an era marked by increasing division and diminished trust.
This visit marks the third papal trip to San Marino, following those of St. John Paul II in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
Pope Leo XIV cautioned against contemporary societal trends characterized by violence, fragmentation, and ideologies that elevate self-interest above the common good. He described the current global landscape as "wounded by many conflicts" and encouraged Christians to respond with forgiveness, solidarity, and care for the vulnerable.
He referred to San Marino as a "laboratory of good politics" and advocated for public life to consistently uphold the dignity of every human person from conception to natural death. This phrasing aligns with the Catholic Church's established positions on abortion and euthanasia.
In 2021, San Marino voters approved a referendum to legalize abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a significant shift from the previous decades-long prohibition in a nation with strong Catholic traditions. While the pope did not directly reference this legislative change, he underscored the importance of political, social, and economic frameworks that center on human dignity, warning against systems that may seem liberating but ultimately undermine the human person and the common good.
The pontiff also commended smaller communities within the San Marino-Montefeltro region for their collaborative efforts to combat depopulation and service loss.