Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has reaffirmed that religious freedom is not merely a legal entitlement but a fundamental human right essential for truth, peace, and moral harmony. Addressing members of the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN) during an audience at the Vatican on Friday, the Pope praised the organization’s global efforts to defend persecuted Christians and promote the right to belief as a vital aspect of human dignity.
The Holy Father’s remarks came ahead of the release of ACN’s Religious Freedom in the World Report, scheduled for October 21. He emphasized that religious liberty is rooted in the very nature of humanity, as each person is “created in God’s image and endowed with reason and free will.”
“Every individual carries within their heart a profound longing for truth, for meaning, and for communion with others and with God,” Pope Leo said. “Religious freedom allows individuals and communities to seek that truth, to live it freely, and to bear witness to it openly.”
He added that this freedom forms the moral foundation of any just society, ensuring the space for conscience to develop and operate without coercion.
Pope Leo expressed concern over increasing acts of hostility and violence toward believers of various faiths, particularly Christians, in many parts of the world. He described ACN’s mission as a “living contradiction” to the hatred that divides humanity, noting that the Church can never forsake those suffering persecution.
“The right to religious freedom is not optional but essential,” he stated firmly. “When it is denied, we witness the gradual disintegration of ethical and spiritual bonds within communities.”
Quoting his predecessor, Pope Francis, he reiterated, “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others.”
The Pope underscored that authentic reconciliation among people is impossible without the protection of religious freedom. “It is not a privilege bestowed by governments,” he said, “but a foundational condition that safeguards the moral fabric of society.”
He recalled the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, which affirmed religious freedom as a universal right to be recognized and protected by all nations. This principle, he noted, reflects the Church’s enduring mission to uphold the dignity of every human being, regardless of creed or nationality.
Tracing ACN’s origins to 1947, Pope Leo highlighted its role in post-war reconciliation and its ongoing service to suffering communities worldwide. The pontiff praised the foundation’s Religious Freedom in the World Report as “an indispensable instrument that brings to light the hidden suffering of many.”
He expressed special appreciation for ACN’s financial and logistical support in fragile nations such as the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique. “Wherever Aid to the Church in Need rebuilds a chapel, supports a religious sister, or provides a vehicle for missionary work,” he said, “you strengthen not only the life of the Church but also the spiritual and moral fabric of the societies you serve.”
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the foundation to continue fostering reconciliation and solidarity through concrete acts of faith. Supporting local Christian communities, he said, enables them to act as “peacemakers in their homelands living signs of social harmony and fraternity.”
“By your work,” the Pope affirmed, “you help to show that a different world is possible one rooted in mutual respect, truth, and the freedom to believe.”