“As you know, in the Bible it is the little ones who make history!” the Holy Father said, encouraging the inhabitants of this tiny, Catholic state.
In his first speech in Monaco, Leo XIV asked the small state to be a laboratory for Catholic Social Doctrine, advocating for the distribution of wealth, integral ecology, and the defense of human life.
The highlight of this densely-packed trip will be the Mass scheduled for this afternoon at the Louis II Stadium, where more than 15,000 people are expected. But he has also met with the Catholic community, and particularly those who will be welcomed into the Church at Easter.
Placed under the motto "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life", it is the second apostolic journey of the pontificate of Leo XIV.
The helicopter carrying the Holy Father landed this Saturday morning, at 9:03 a.m. on the Monaco heliport, marking the start of a historic visit to the principality, the first by a sovereign pontiff since 1538.
During this flight of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, Leo XIV sent telegrams to the heads of state of the countries overflown – to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Upon disembarking, the head of the Catholic Church was greeted on the red carpet by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, surrounded by an honor guard. In accordance with protocol, a 21-gun salute was fired from the Rock of Monaco to welcome the arrival of the 267th Pope, whose helicopter flew over the Mediterranean Sea under a radiant sun.
After a brief welcoming ceremony on the tarmac, during which the Pontiff greeted the Monegasque authorities, the papal procession was to head towards the Prince's Palace.
After traveling through the city in the Popemobile, the pontiff was received by Prince Albert II with all the honors due to his rank in the central courtyard of the Prince's Palace shortly after 9:30 a.m. Following the playing of the national anthems of both countries, the two heads of state spoke privately for about 2o minutes, before praying together for a few moments in the Prince's Chapel.
They finally appeared on the palace balcony shortly after 10 a.m., where they were cheered by the 8,000 Monegasques gathered in the Palace Square under a radiant sun. The first to speak, Prince Albert II, expressed his delight at this "historic" visit. He emphasized Monaco's tradition of "loyalty to the pope," a land "steeped in Christian values," and highlighted the joint efforts undertaken with the Holy See in the areas of peace, environmental protection, and "respect for human dignity in all its dimensions."
After the Prince's speech, the Pope, in turn, spoke in French, giving his first speech of the visit from the balcony, saying he was happy to be "the first of the modern-day successors of the Apostle Peter to visit the Principality of Monaco." He emphasized the importance of Monaco's "vocation for encounter," a small, "cosmopolitan" enclave in an era marked by "a widespread climate of isolation and self-sufficiency."
“As you know, in the Bible it is the little ones who make history!” the head of the Catholic Church asserted. He affirmed, however, that the Catholic faith could only change the world “if we assume our historical responsibilities.”
After his visit to the Prince's Palace, the Pope traveled to the city's cathedral in the popemobile, stopping numerous times to bless infants among the thousands of people who cheered him on his way. Welcomed on the steps by Prince Albert II and the Bishop of Monaco, Dominique-Marie David, he sprinkled holy water on the 19th-century building, which houses the remains of Monaco's monarchs and bishops.
During a liturgy with priests and religious of the diocese, as well as the princely couple in the front row, the Pope affirmed that the mission of the Catholic Church is to "defend humanity: the whole person and all human beings." He encouraged the Catholics of Monaco — who represent 82% of the population:
Proclaim the Gospel of life, hope and love. Bring the light of the Gospel to everyone so that the life of every man and woman may be defended and promoted from conception until natural death. Offer new pathways capable of stemming the tide of secularism, which risks reducing humanity to individualism and basing social life on the production of wealth.
Albert II himself refused to legalize abortion in November 2025, citing the place of Catholicism in Monaco, where it is the state religion.
The Holy Father concluded the morning with young people and those who will be welcomed into the Church at Easter.
He called on the testimony of the young patroness of the island, St. Devota, as well as the modern young saint, Carlo Acutis.
Arriving in the popemobile, cheered by a sea of yellow caps, Leo XIV first venerated the relics of Saint Devota – patron saint of the principality – in the small church. Then he went to the podium erected in the square where he rejoined the hundreds of young people who had waited for him all morning, in the heat and in a joyful atmosphere of hymns of praise.
The audience included schoolchildren, young people involved in associations, and individuals on a journey to join the Church. After a lively interlude of traditional Monegasque dances and personal testimonies, Leo XIV delivered a 15-minute speech in French, responding to comments from four young people – Benjamin, Andreia, Ethan, and Sophie.
