Pope Leo XIV warned Christian Public Servants that promoting “values,” however evangelical, is “powerless to change the world” if detached from Christ, their source.
Newsroom (28/08/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV welcomed elected public servants and civic leaders from the Diocese of Créteil and the French department of Val-de-Marne on their Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome, calling them to unite their Christian faith with their public responsibilities to address societal challenges and promote the common good.
The Holy Father extended cordial greetings to His Excellency, Monsignor Dominique Blanchet, and the delegation, commending their “journey of faith” as an opportunity to return to their daily commitments “strengthened by hope” and “better equipped to work towards building a more just, more humane, and more fraternal world – which can be nothing more than a world ever more imbued with the Gospel.”
“The salvation that Jesus obtained through His death and resurrection,” Pope Leo said, “encompasses all dimensions of human life, such as culture, the economy and work, family and marriage, respect for human dignity and life, health, as well as communication, education, and politics.” He emphasized that Christianity is not merely a private devotion but a way of life that shapes society through love of God and neighbor, transforming adversaries into brothers in Christ.
Turning to Christ Amid Societal Challenges
Addressing the social challenges facing the Créteil region, including violence, poverty, unemployment, and the erosion of social bonds, Pope Leo urged Christian leaders to turn to Jesus for guidance. “In the face of the ‘excesses’ of Western society,” he said, “Christians can do no better… than to turn to Christ and ask for His help in carrying out our responsibilities.”
The Pope highlighted the virtue of charity, infused at Baptism, as a cornerstone for Christian public servants. Quoting the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, he described charity as “a force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world” and renewing social structures from within. This social and political charity, he noted, equips leaders to face contemporary challenges, provided they live out and bear witness to their faith. He warned that promoting “values,” however evangelical, is “powerless to change the world” if detached from Christ, their source.
The Challenge of Faith in Public Life
Acknowledging the difficulties of living out faith in public roles, particularly in France where laïcité is sometimes misunderstood, Pope Leo recognized the marginalization, ignorance, or ridicule of Christ and His Church in Western societies. He also noted the pressures of party directives and “ideological colonization,” a term borrowed from Pope Francis, which Christian politicians often face.
Despite these challenges, the Pope called for courage rooted in union with “Jesus crucified.” Quoting John 16:33, he reminded them, “In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have overcome the world.” He urged the pilgrims to unite themselves “more and more to Christ, to live in Him and bear witness to Him,” emphasizing that there can be no separation between their Christian identity and public roles. “There is not on one side the politician, and on the other the Christian,” he said, “but the politician who, under the gaze of God and of his conscience, lives out his commitments and responsibilities in a Christian manner.”
A Call to Deepen and Defend Christian Doctrine
“You are therefore called to strengthen yourselves in the faith,” Pope Leo declared, encouraging the leaders to deepen their understanding of the Church’s social doctrine, which Jesus taught and which aligns with human nature and natural law accessible to all, including non-believers. “You must not be afraid to propose and defend it with conviction,” he said, describing it as “a doctrine of salvation that aims at the good of every human being and the building of peaceful, harmonious, prosperous, and reconciled societies.”
The Pope underscored that this undertaking is not merely for personal enrichment but is of “great importance and great usefulness” for those they serve. He encouraged them to apply this doctrine in their duties and in drafting laws, ensuring their decisions reflect their faith.
A Message of Hope and Blessing
Concluding his address, Pope Leo thanked the pilgrims for their visit and expressed his sincere encouragement for their continued service to their communities. He urged them to keep alive the hope of a better world and the certainty that, united with Christ, their efforts will bear fruit. Entrusting them and their country to the protection of Our Lady of the Assumption, he imparted his Apostolic Blessing.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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