Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See

Your Eminence,
Your Excellencies
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank His Excellency Ambassador George Poulides, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, for his kind and respectful words on your behalf. I welcome all of you to this meeting for the exchange of greetings at the beginning of the New Year.

This is a traditional occasion in the life of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See; but it is a new experience for me, since it was only several months ago that I was called to shepherd Christ’s flock. I am pleased, therefore, to welcome you this morning, and I am grateful for your generous participation, which this year is enriched by the presence of the new resident Heads of Mission of Kazakhstan, Burundi and Belarus. I thank the respective Governmental Authorities for their decision to open in Rome diplomatic Representations to the Holy See. This is a tangible sign of good and fruitful bilateral relations. Through each of you, dear Ambassadors, I wish to extend my good wishes to your countries, and to share a reflection on our times, which are so troubled by a growing number of tensions and conflicts.

This past year saw many significant events, beginning with those directly affecting the life of the Church, which experienced a profound Jubilee, and saw the return to the Father’s house of my venerable predecessor, Pope Francis. The whole world gathered around his coffin on the day of his funeral, and sensed the loss of a father who had guided the People of God with immense pastoral charity.

A few days ago, we closed the last Holy Door, that of Saint Peter’s Basilica, which Pope Francis himself had opened on Christmas Night in 2024. During the Holy Year, millions of pilgrims flocked to Rome to make their Jubilee pilgrimage. Each person brought his or her own experiences, questions and joys, as well as pains and wounds, to pass through the Holy Doors, which are symbols of Christ himself, our heavenly physician. By coming in the flesh, he took upon himself our humanity in order to make us partakers of his divine life, as we contemplated in the recent celebration of Christmas. I am confident that, through these experiences, many people have been able to deepen or rediscover their relationship with the Lord Jesus, finding comfort and renewed hope for facing life’s challenges.

Here, I would like to express my particular gratitude to the people of Rome, who, with great patience and hospitality, have welcomed the many pilgrims and tourists who came to the city from every part of the world.  I would like to express my special thanks to the Italian Government, the Capitoline Administration and the police forces, who worked with zeal and precision to ensure that Rome was able to welcome all the visitors, and that the Jubilee events, as well as those following the death of Pope Francis, could take place safely and peacefully.

The Holy See and Italy share not only geographical proximity, but above all a long history of faith and culture that binds the Church to this beautiful peninsula and its people. This is also reflected in the excellent bilateral relations, sealed this year by the entry into force of the amendments to the Agreement on Spiritual Assistance to the Armed Forces, which will allow for more effective spiritual accompaniment of the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces in Italy, and in numerous missions abroad.  There was likewise the signing of the Agreement for an agrivoltaic plant in Santa Maria di Galeria, which will enable the supply of electricity to Vatican City using renewable resources, thus confirming our common commitment to caring for creation.  I am also grateful for the visits that I received from the senior Government officials at the beginning of my Pontificate and for the exquisite hospitality shown to me at the Quirinale Palace by the President of the Republic, to whom I wish to extend my cordial and appreciative greetings.

During the past year, having accepted the invitation given to Pope Francis, I had the joy of visiting Türkiye and Lebanon. I am grateful to the Authorities of both countries for their welcome.  In İznik, Türkiye, together with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and representatives of other Christian denominations, I commemorated the 1700^th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council.  This was an important opportunity for renewing our commitment to the journey towards the full visible unity of all Christians. In Lebanon, I met a people who, despite their difficulties, are full of faith and enthusiasm. There, I sensed the hope of young people who aspire to build a more just and cohesive society, and to strengthen the bond of cultures and religions that makes the Land of the Cedars unique in the world.

Read the full address at the Vatican's site.