Pope Leo XIV condemns opioid crisis and consumerism, criticizing pharmaceutical greed and big tech’s addictive platforms at Vatican meeting.
Newsroom (24/10/2025, Gaudium Press) On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Pope Leo XIV denounced the devastating toll of opioid addiction in the United States, accusing the pharmaceutical industry of prioritizing profits over human lives by lacking a “global ethic.” Speaking to participants of the fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, the pontiff also criticized the pervasive influence of “unbridled consumerism” and big tech’s role in fostering addictive behaviors worldwide.
The Holy Father singled out the opioid epidemic, particularly the rise of fentanyl, which he called the “drug of death” and the “second most common cause of death among the poor” in the U.S. “The spread of new synthetic drugs, ever more lethal, is not only a crime involving trafficking of drugs but really has to do with the production of pharmaceuticals and their profit,” he said, pointing to the industry’s ethical failures.
He linked the crisis to a broader cultural malaise, driven by consumerism and a “cult of physical well-being” promoted through advertising. “In the current culture, the mystery of pain is reduced to something totally inhuman,” he said, noting that this mindset fuels dependence on pain medications, which in turn boosts pharmaceutical profits. “This also leads to dependence on opioids, as has been devastating particularly in the United States.”
Beyond pharmaceuticals, Pope Leo XIV turned his critique to big tech, condemning social media platforms for exacerbating consumerism and anxiety, particularly among young people. “How can a poor young person live with hope and without anxiety when the social media constantly exalt an unbridled consumerism and a totally unrealizable level of economic success?” he asked. He also highlighted the growing issue of digital gambling, describing platforms “designed to create compulsive dependence and generate addictive habits.”
Addressing social leaders at the gathering, the pope praised their efforts to combat injustice and foster solidarity. “Your many and creative initiatives can become new public policies and social rights,” he said, calling them “champions of humanity, witnesses to justice, poets of solidarity.” He expressed solidarity with their work to address systemic inequities in a world dominated by “unjust systems.”
The pope’s remarks underscore his ongoing commitment to addressing global social issues, from economic inequality to the ethical responsibilities of powerful industries, urging a collective push for justice and human dignity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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