What the Pope Said this Week

Pope Leo XIV greets a child from the popemobile as he rides around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience Dec. 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

Jason Scott’s weekly review of Pope Leo XIV’s audiences –

12 December — Address to Italian Intelligence Services

On Friday, Pope Leo XIV received members of Italy’s Security Intelligence System, marking the centenary of the Italian intelligence service. The Pope acknowledged their grave responsibility while issuing a strong call for ethical conduct:

“We must be vigilant to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit politicians, journalists, or other actors in civil society. All of this also applies to the ecclesial sphere. In fact, in various countries the Church is the victim of intelligence services acting for improper ends and suppressing its freedom.”

13 December — Jubilee of Italian Diplomacy

On Saturday, Pope Leo addressed participants in the Jubilee of Italian Diplomacy, reflecting on hope as foundational to diplomatic work:

“In diplomacy, only those who truly hope always seek and support dialogue between the parties, trusting in mutual understanding even in the face of difficulties and tensions… Those who tire of dialoguing tire of hoping for peace.”

14 December — Angelus, Third Sunday of Advent

On Gaudete Sunday, Pope Leo reflected on John the Baptist imprisoned yet still seeking truth, emphasising that Christ reveals himself through his works:

“A prophet, even in chains, retains the ability to use his voice in the pursuit of truth and justice… Christ announces who he is by what he does. And what he does is a sign of salvation for all of us.”

The Pope also expressed deep concern over renewed fighting in the Republic of Congo, urging parties to cease violence and seek dialogue.

15 December — Christmas Tree and Nativity Scene; Sydney Terror Attack

On Monday, Pope Leo met with delegations who donated the Vatican’s Christmas decorations, reflecting on these as signs of faith and hope. He praised the Costa Rican Nativity scene “Nacimiento Gaudium,” featuring 28,000 ribbons representing lives saved from abortion.

The Pope strongly condemned the terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Sydney, where gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach:

“Enough with these forms of antisemitic violence! We must eliminate hatred from our hearts.”

17 December — General Audience: The Restless Heart

On Wednesday, Pope Leo continued his Jubilee catecheses on “Jesus Christ Our Hope,” reflecting on the restlessness of the human heart:

“We often perceive how too much doing, instead of giving us fulfilment, becomes a vortex that overwhelms us, takes away our serenity, and prevents us from living to the fullest what is truly important in our lives.”
Invoking Saint Augustine, the Pope reminded pilgrims that true treasure lies in the heart, not in worldly accumulation:

“It is in the heart that true treasure is kept, not in earthly safes, not in large financial investments, which today more than ever before are out of control and unjustly concentrated at the bloody price of millions of human lives and the devastation of God’s creation.”

18 December — World Day of Peace Message

Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the 59th World Day of Peace, titled “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace,” was released this week. The Pope called for a peace rooted in the risen Christ—humble, persevering, and transformative:
“Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal: while to evil we cry out ‘Enough,’ to peace we whisper ‘Forever.'”

Citing the alarming 9.4% increase in global military spending in 2024, Pope Leo warned against the growing reliance on armed deterrence and urged integral disarmament:

“True and lasting peace among nations cannot consist in the possession of an equal supply of armaments but only in mutual trust… The way of Jesus continues to cause unease and fear. He firmly repeats to those who would defend him by force: ‘Put your sword back into its sheath.'”

Take-Away Points:

-Intelligence work must be grounded in ethics; confidential information must never be weaponised against the Church or civil society.
-Hope is the foundation of authentic diplomacy; those who tire of dialogue tire of hoping for peace.
-Christ reveals himself through his works of mercy and healing; even prophets in chains can speak truth.
-Racially motivated violence must be condemned; hatred must be eliminated from our hearts.
-True treasure lies not in worldly accumulation but in the love of God; our restless hearts find peace only in Christ.
-Lasting peace requires “unarmed and disarming” hearts, mutual trust between nations, and rejection of the arms race.