Pope Leo XIV urges Italian prefects to protect civil harmony and ensure all citizens, especially the poor, access public services equally.
Newsroom (17/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) Addressing Italy’s regional Prefects on Monday, Pope Leo XIV urged civil leaders to safeguard social harmony so that “the poor find welcome, the elderly greater peace of mind, and families, youth, and the sick receive essential services.”
Speaking to the representatives of the Italian Republic’s executive authority, the Pope drew a historical connection between the administrative and spiritual guardians of society—Prefects and Bishops—dating back to the Roman Empire. He recalled the example of St. Ambrose of Milan, a former Prefect elevated to bishop by popular acclaim. “Following this rapid transition,” Pope Leo noted, “Ambrose exercised his public duties in a new way, placing at the service of the people the spiritual authority with which he had been invested.”
This link between civic and spiritual vocation, the Pope explained, remains vital today. He said both the Church and the Italian State share responsibility for the well-being of citizens, addressing not only material needs but also moral and spiritual dimensions. “Our own time, marked by conflicts and international tensions,” he continued, “highlights the importance of safeguarding the common good, which cannot be reduced to material aspects, since it concerns the moral and spiritual heritage of the Italian Republic.”
A Call to Integrity in Public Service
Pope Leo XIV praised Prefects for their “interior discipline and upright conscience,” virtues he described as fundamental to public service. Their duty, he said, is not limited to enforcing law and order but extends to fostering collaboration across state institutions. “Especially in situations of emergency—before calamities or dangers—your role makes it possible to express at its best the values of solidarity, courage, and justice that honor the Italian Republic,” the Pope told them.
He warned, however, that maintaining public order requires far more than suppressing crime. It also demands vigilance against “violence, falsehood, and vulgarity”—forces he said corrode social trust and harmony.
Technology as a Tool for Inclusion
Looking ahead, Pope Leo acknowledged the profound changes reshaping public administration through new technologies, especially artificial intelligence. He urged Italian officials to employ such tools responsibly, ensuring innovation benefits all citizens without deepening inequality. “Civil harmony allows services to reach all,” he said, encouraging Prefects to harness technology for inclusion and transparency.
Finally, Pope Leo pledged the Catholic Church’s full cooperation and respect toward “the good of the Italian State,” thanking civil servants for nurturing a citizenship that is “conscious, honest, and active.”
In a world often fractured by division and distrust, the Pope’s message was clear: enduring peace and order begin with justice, conscience, and a shared commitment to the dignity of every person.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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