Making a morning visit to Europe's third-smallest state, Pope Leo took time to explain what freedom really is, and how to attain it.
“Promoting freedom means defending the spaces of conscience,” Pope Leo XIV said during his first speech on his pastoral visit to San Marino. Arriving at 8:45 a.m. at the Torraccia heliport, the Pope received military honors and then met with the two Captains Regent of San Marino, Alice Mina and Vladimiro Selva. Addressing the authorities of this small country of about 34,000 inhabitants, an enclave in northeastern Italy, the Pope delivered a wide-ranging reflection on sovereignty and freedom.
Building on the visits made to the country by John Paul II in 1982 and Benedict XVI in 2011, Leo XIV recalled the “deep” and “long-standing” bond that unites it with the Apostolic See. He explained, however, that “it was only a century ago, in April 1926, that diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Most Serene Republic of San Marino were officially established.”
The Pope dwelled at length on the meaning of the word “freedom,” which is part of this small republic’s motto. “In the context of the history of a people and a state, it certainly expresses the aspiration toward self-determination, toward not being dependent on other political authorities,” he explained, while noting that this word has a much deeper meaning.
“I wish to emphasize that there is no true civil liberty without personal liberty — that is, without respect for and the promotion of the dignity of the human person,” the Pope explained. He stressed that “this liberty is ultimately given and guaranteed by God, whose voice resounds in the conscience of every human being.” He thus paid tribute to the “martyrs of freedom,” mentioning in particular “Saint Thomas More, patron of rulers and politicians.”
“Even today, in many parts of the world, people remain faithful to their conscience, even in the face of great adversity, thus bearing witness to true freedom — the freedom that flows from being sons and daughters of God,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized.
Explaining that the theological reference to the Trinitarian faith should lead us to avoid all forms of absolutism, he presented the communion of saints as an example “that is necessary today in the face of idolatry, which corrupts at its very root the political and economic projects that present themselves in the name of freedom but which, in reality, are enslaved to idols and power.”
The Republic of San Marino, an ally of multilateralism
The Pope also thanked the Republic of San Marino for its “active and positive participation in peacebuilding” within multilateral forums. In the presence of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, Leo XIV reaffirmed the Holy See’s support for “diplomacy and multilateralism as the preferred means for fostering international relations and promoting understanding among nations.”
Referring to his visit on March 28 to the Principality of Monaco, the Pope emphasized “the special value of a small, human-scale state, where it is possible to experience the closeness of politics to the needs of citizens and, consequently, a more effective democracy — all the more so when it is also inspired by Christian values.”
He thus presented the Republic of San Marino as a “‘laboratory’ of good governance, where, without renouncing the secular nature of the state, it is possible to draw upon the principles of Catholic social teaching: the pursuit of the common good, the universal destination of goods, the harmony between subsidiarity and solidarity, as well as social justice.”
“Caring for the Human Person”
From this perspective, the Pope emphasized the importance of “caring for the human person” and “the protection of life at every stage, from conception to natural death.” He did not mention the legalization of abortion in 2022 in this small territory, one year after a referendum in which 77.3% of voters had come out in favor of decriminalizing abortion.
Leo XIV also thanked the Republic of San Marino for its tradition of hospitality, which “was particularly evident in the support and welcome extended to the Ukrainian people, especially at the start of the conflict.” He also expressed his gratitude for San Marino’s commitment “to international humanitarian law at a time when it seems to be ignored, or even trampled upon, on a daily basis.”
The Pope then greeted the crowd gathered outside, expressing his joy at being able to “enjoy the beauty, tradition, and faith” of this territory. He invited the people of San Marino to live an “authentic freedom.”
From the basilica, a call to open “the window of the heart”
His visit to Europe’s third-smallest state — behind the Vatican and Monaco — continued with a meeting with the faithful of the Diocese at the Basilica of San Marino. In his address, the Pope paid tribute to the founders of this territory, Saint Marinus and Saint Leo, who “knew how to translate the message of the Gospel into a new communal and political model, strongly characterized by the Christian principles of freedom, mutual respect, and communion — a model that remains alive to this day,” he emphasized.
Just as Benedict XVI had done during his visit to San Marino on June 19, 2011, Leo XIV urged young people to keep “the window of the heart” open and to live out their mission in the world “with enthusiasm.” He also called on the local Church to enter into an “educational pact” with parents, so that they “may rediscover the faith for themselves in a new way and experience the joy of passing on to their children the Christian values of which they are the custodians.”
“We live in a world wounded by numerous conflicts, in which we view with concern the rise in violence, isolationism, and fear of others,” the Pope noted, inviting the people of San Marino to increase their acts of mutual aid and charity.
Echoing the title of his recent encyclical, the Pope emphasized the promotion of “magnificent humanity.” He urged people to “overcome the individualism of a certain urban and consumerist culture, as well as other forms of mistrustful and divisive particularism” and to “breathe new life into our hopes for fraternity and peace.”
The Pope’s day continues in Pennabilli and then Rimini
After taking the time to mingle with the young people gathered on the steps of the basilica, the Pope bid farewell to his San Marino hosts at the end of this brief state visit, which lasted just over three hours. His helicopter, provided by the Italian Air Force, took off at 12:05 p.m. from the Torraccia heliport, nearly 45 minutes ahead of schedule.
After a private lunch with the Augustinian nuns of the community at the Monastery of St. Anthony of Padua in Pennabilli, the Pope will head to the Rimini Meeting. He will meet with participants at 4:00 p.m. in the Grand Auditorium, before proceeding to the Rimini Cathedral at 5:30 p.m. There he will meet with the sick, people with disabilities, and the poor supported by Caritas. His pastoral visit will conclude at the port of Rimini, where he will celebrate Mass at 6:30 p.m.
