During a private audience with the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation at the close of its 2025 General Assembly and International Conference held in Rome from May 15–17, Pope Leo XIV issued a heartfelt appeal: “Give voice to the poor.”

The gathering, themed “Overcoming Polarization and Rebuilding Global Governance: The Ethical Foundations,” served as a backdrop for the Pope's powerful call to reenergize the Church’s Social Doctrine amid today’s turbulent socio-political climate.

Pope Leo XIV challenged Foundation members to revive the vision he laid out the night of his election: to be bridge-builders—fostering peace and unity through open-hearted dialogue and genuine human encounters. He emphasized that such bridges cannot be thrown together on impulse, but must be constructed with a balance of divine grace and human free will.

Reflecting on the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who promoted social dialogue during his own era of turmoil, Pope Leo XIV noted the parallels with today’s world. He referenced Pope Francis’ description of our time as a “polycrisis”—marked by overlapping challenges like war, environmental collapse, deepening inequality, forced migration, and diminishing human rights.

In this complex landscape, the Church’s Social Doctrine, the Pope explained, serves as a compass—one that aligns scientific understanding with moral conscience to chart a path forward.

The Pope stressed that what defines an age isn’t merely the problems it faces, but the integrity of its response. That response, he asserted, must be grounded in ethical discernment, critical thinking, and an openness to divine guidance.

Highlighting the cultural upheaval of the digital revolution, Pope Leo XIV called on the Church to reinvigorate its mission to cultivate critical thinking. He warned against the collapse of civil discourse and the spread of disinformation and rigid ideologies.

“Thoughtful study and deep reflection,” he said, “are vital. But just as vital is our willingness to encounter and truly listen to the poor.”

Pope Leo XIV insisted that the voices of the marginalized are not merely to be helped, but heard—treasured as essential contributors to both the Church and humanity. Their often-overlooked perspectives can help us see the world more clearly through the lens of divine compassion.

In closing, he urged the Foundation to become active, creative collaborators in shaping the Church’s Social Doctrine—walking hand in hand with the people of God, and fostering a culture of dialogue and solidarity in these unsettled times.