Pope Leo XIV met with officials of the Vatican Secretariat of State, and invites them to never let ambition or rivalry stand in the way of serving as a community that acts as a hub between the Holy See and the Church around the world.
Newsroom (05/06/2025 07:45 , Gaudium Press) Pope Leo XIV met with superiors and officials of the Secretariat of State on Thursday morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, expressing gratitude for their service while underscoring the importance of unity, reform, and a universal outlook in the Church’s mission.
In his address, the Holy Father thanked Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, for his support during the early days of his pontificate, acknowledging the indispensable role of the Secretariat in assisting the Pope’s ministry. “The Pope cannot work alone,” he said, departing from his prepared remarks. “There is great necessity to rely on the assistance of many people in the Holy See, and in a special way on all of you.”
Reflecting on the Secretariat’s evolution since its establishment in the 15th century, Pope Leo noted its growing diversity, with nearly half of its members now lay faithful—including more than 50 women, both religious and lay. “This development means that, today, the Secretariat of State itself reflects the face of the Church,” he said, describing it as a community that shares in the challenges and hopes of the global faithful.
The Pope highlighted two key dimensions of the Church’s work: incarnation, engaging with contemporary cultures and languages, and catholicity, fostering unity amid diversity. He credited St. Paul VI’s reforms, inspired by Vatican II, for shaping the modern Curia’s responsiveness to a rapidly changing world while maintaining its universal character.
Pope Leo also reaffirmed the Secretariat’s coordinating role, as outlined in Pope Francis’s Praedicate Evangelium, particularly in unifying the work of various Vatican dicasteries. He praised the often-overlooked efforts of its three main sections—General Affairs, Relations with States, and Diplomatic Personnel—urging staff to avoid ambition and rivalry. “Let this place be a true community of faith and charity,” he said, echoing Paul VI’s call for a spirit of fraternal service.
Concluding with an appeal for prayers, the Pope entrusted the Secretariat to Mary, Mother of the Church, and imparted his blessing on the officials and their work. The meeting underscored his vision of a collaborative, forward-looking Curia deeply rooted in the Gospel.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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