San Marino: Pope Leo XIV began his pastoral visit to San Marino on Saturday by praising the small republic for its long tradition of liberty, peace and care for the human person. During a meeting with the country’s civil authorities, the Pope said San Marino could provide an example of good politics focused on protecting human dignity and serving the common good.
Pope Leo arrived in San Marino for a half day visit before continuing to the Italian city of Rimini later in the afternoon. His first meeting took place at the Public Palace, where he met the country’s two Captains Regent, who serve together as heads of state. The tradition of having two leaders dates back to 1243 and remains one of the distinctive features of San Marino’s political system.
The Pope said he was pleased to visit the world’s oldest surviving republic and recalled the visits made by Pope John Paul II in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. He also highlighted the country’s long standing motto, Liberty, which he said reflects both its history and its hopes for the future.
Pope Leo stressed that political freedom cannot exist without personal freedom. He said genuine freedom must be based on respect for the dignity of every human being and on the protection of the individual conscience.
For the Pope, freedom is not simply the ability to make personal choices. He said it also carries a responsibility to others and is strengthened through generosity, community, dialogue and meaningful encounters between people.
He warned that freedom can lose its true meaning when political and economic systems become controlled by power and material interests. In such situations, he said, projects presented as efforts to protect freedom can instead become forms of dependence.
Pope Leo also referred to people who have remained faithful to their conscience even in difficult circumstances. Among them, he mentioned St. Thomas More, who is recognised as a patron saint of statesmen and politicians. His example, the Pope said, shows the importance of standing firmly for truth and conscience.
The Pope connected this understanding of freedom with the history of San Marino and its founders, St. Marinus and St. Leo. Their work, determination and creativity continue to influence the identity of the republic, he said.
He also called on San Marino to make peace an important part of its understanding of liberty. According to Pope Leo, freedom should encourage people to take an active and constructive role in building peaceful societies and stronger relationships between nations.
The Pope said the Holy See and San Marino share a commitment to diplomacy and cooperation between countries. At a time when conflicts continue to affect many parts of the world, he said dialogue and international cooperation remain essential for finding peaceful solutions.
Pope Leo invited San Marino to become what he described as a laboratory for good politics. He encouraged the country to draw on principles of Catholic social teaching, including the common good, social justice, solidarity and the responsible sharing of resources.
At the heart of these principles, he said, must be care for the human person. Pope Leo urged San Marino to protect human life and to recognise the dignity of every person from conception until natural death.
He said this concern for others has been part of San Marino’s identity since its earliest history. The republic has developed a tradition of welcoming people who are suffering or facing difficult circumstances, and the Pope encouraged its citizens to continue this tradition.
He particularly recognised San Marino’s support for people from Ukraine and its commitment to international humanitarian law. He said such efforts were especially important at a time when respect for humanitarian rules is facing serious challenges because of continuing conflicts around the world.
The Pope concluded his address by thanking San Marino’s leaders and people for their efforts to protect human dignity and promote peace. He said their commitment is closely connected to the country’s Christian heritage and encouraged them to continue building a society where freedom is linked with responsibility, solidarity and care for others.
Pope Leo’s visit offered San Marino both recognition for its long history and a challenge for its future. His message was that true liberty is not only about independence or political rights. It is also about protecting people, listening to others, working for peace and ensuring that political decisions remain focused on human dignity and the common good.