Vatican & World News 28.03.2026

0:00In the headlines, this Saturday March, the 28th, Pope Leo the 14th undertakes, a one-day apostolic visit to the Principality of Monaco. In his meetings with authorities, the Catholic community and young people, he has words of encouragement for the witness of Christian faith and the building of the common good. And concluding his visit with the celebration of Holy Mass, the Pope provided the faithful not to get used to the clamor of war. In the Vatican, I'm Linda Baudoni. Pope Leo the 14th travelled today, Saturday the 28th by helicopter, to the Principality of Monaco undertaking his second apostolic journey abroad. In a telegram to the President of Italy during the flight, he expressed his desire to encourage

1:00the witness of Christian faith and the building of the common good. This visit lasting just under 9 hours is the first ever undertaken by a Pope to the small city-state in modern times. Upon arrival, the Pope was greeted with an official welcome ceremony and immediately met with Prince Albert II and his family at the Princess Palace. The two men then greeted residents of the Principality from the balcony, and as Devon Watkins reports, the Pope encouraged the small European nation to place its material prosperity at the service of humanity, law and justice. Pope Leo the 14th greeted the residents of Monaco from the balcony of the Princess Palace on Saturday morning. He recalled that he is the first Pope of the modern era to visit Monaco, which is one of the few European nations to have the Catholic faith as its state religion, though freedom of worship is guaranteed. Given this deep bond between the Church of Rome and Monaco, the Pope said he entrusts the Principality with deepening its commitment to

2:03the social doctrine of the Church and carrying it out at the international level. The approach to problems characteristic of this social doctrine, he said, can reveal the great light that the Gospel brings to our time in which it is difficult to find hope. Pope Leo recalled that Monaco overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and he encouraged the small nation to embrace its vocation to promote encounter and to foster social friendship. The gift of smallness and a living spiritual heritage, he said, invite you to put your prosperity at the service of law and justice. He said the current historical moment witnesses a display of power and logic of oppression that are harming the world and jeopardizing peace. Within Monaco's pluralistic makeup, he said many people hold positions of considerable influence in the economic and financial spheres. Pope Leo noted that the Kingdom of God shakes up the unjust configurations

3:03of power and structures of sin that create chasm between the rich and the poor, between the privileged and the discarded, between friends and enemies. Recalling Monaco's Catholic heritage, he said Jesus' sovereignty raises up all people and connects us so that everyone is called to protect every human life with love so that none are excluded. In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Monaco to show the world the depth of Catholic social teaching in order to promote social progress and guide the life of humanity. I'm Devin Watkins. Then in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at the heart of the Principality, Pope Leo gathered with the Catholic Community of Monaco for the celebration of Midday Prayer. Here he offered a reflection centered on Christ as our advocate before the Father. Therese Jones tells us more. Creating Prince Albert II of Monaco, Archbishop Dominique Marie David and the clergy in Faithful,

4:03Pope expressed his joy at sharing in the life of a local church distinguished by its diversity and openness. Jesus Christ, le juiced on interceding, reflecting on Jesus as our advocate, Pope Leo highlighted the gift of communion. Christ, he said, reconciles us with the Father and with one another, not through condemnation, but through mercy that purifies, peals, transforms and makes us part of the one family of God. This communion, he noted, is also social in its implications. Jesus' mission restores not only spiritual well-being, but also human dignity, reintegrating individuals into the community. In this light, the church is called to be a reflection in this world of the love of God, which shows no favoritism, the Pope had it, and turning to the local context, the Pope observed that Monaco's social and cultural diversity is a richness, not a division. He said in the church, such variety should never become the occasion of division into social classes,

5:06but rather assign that all are welcomed as persons and children of God. Of the highlighted eight second dimension of Christ's advocacy, the proclamation of the Gospel in defense of every human being. Jesus, he said, gives voice to those forgotten and marginalized, revealing a merciful God who works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. And in this perspective, the church herself is called to be an advocate, he said, committed to the integral development of the human person. The Gospel he explained must illuminate human identity, relationships and the ultimate meaning of life, and conditions. Following the encounter with the Catholic community, the Pope made the Sherwatt journey in the Pope's mobile to the church of St. DeVoter, the micro-State's patron saint. As Joseph Tullock reports, the last item on his hectic morning schedule was a meeting with some of Monaco's young people.

6:09By around midday, thousands of young people from across Monaco were gathered in front of the church of St. DeVoter for an encounter with Pope Leo. It was the last event of a packed morning for the visiting pontiff. Four young residents of the micro-State had been chosen to ask the Pope a question. The first of them was Benjamin, a 22-year-old student and a practicing Catholic. He asked Pope Leo for advice on holding on to hope in the midst of environmental problems and violent conflict worldwide. In his reply, the Pope emphasized the sense of unity with oneself and unity with others that comes from developing a relationship with Christ. It is love that gives stability to life. First and foremost, the fundamental experience of God's love, and then, by extension, the sacred and enlightening experience of mutual love. He then answered questions from Ethan, a 25-year-old man who will be baptized this Easter, and Sophia, a 35-year-old doctor, both asked him about concrete ways of witnessing to the gospel in their daily lives.

7:21How to grow up in the expression of the charity, to more cement our brothers and sisters? In his response, Pope Leo stressed that words, indeed of hope, cannot be improvised. Such actions, the Pope emphasized, are not the fruit of your own efforts, but come from a profound relationship with God. Bringing his speech to a close, Pope Leo urged Monaco's young people to pour themselves out completely for the Lord and for others. Only in this way, the Pope stressed, will you find an everlasting joy and an ever-deeper meaning in life. I'm Joseph Torek. After lunch and a brief rest, Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his visit celebrating Mass at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. In his homily, he called on members of the Church to be peacemakers and to bring happiness to others through their faith. He also focused on the wars and conflicts plaguing the world and said, we are not to grow accustomed to the clamor of weapons and images of war.

8:23Every life cut short, he said, wounds the body of Christ. Debro Castellano Lubof reports. Let us not grow accustomed to the clamor of weapons and images of war. Pope Leo XIV made this powerful reminder to the faithful of Monaco. During the Mass, he celebrated during his one-day apostolic journey to the principality. In his homily, the Pope stressed, every life cut short, wounds the body of Christ. Peace is not merely a balance of power, it is the work of purified hearts. Of those who see others as brothers and sisters to be protected, not enemies to be defeated. The only founder began his homily recalling that today's Gospel reading, according to St. John, recounts the cruel sentence issued against Jesus. This is precisely Jesus.

9:25Telling of the day, when members of the Sanhedrin planned to put him to death and how the religious leaders saw him as a threat. Even today, the Pope noted, how many plots are devised around the world to kill the innocent? How many excuses he said are made to justify their elimination? Yet, despite the persistence of evil the Pope reassured, God's eternal justice always rescues us from our graves, as it did with Lazarus, and gives us new life. The Holy Father noted that in the face of the many injustices that afflict peoples and the wars that tear nations apart, the words of the Prophet Jeremiah, I will turn their mourning into joy, resound with strength. The Pope reminded those before him that the Church in Monaco is called to bear witness to living in peace and with God's blessing. Therefore dear friends, you know, to bring happiness to others through your faith and by manifesting authentic joy. I'm Debra Kestelano-Lubov.

10:30Accompanying her husband, Prince Albert, the second throughout the day, Princess Charlene of Monaco excluded grace, elegance and determination. Ahead of the papal visit and Bodger, CEO of the Foundation, the Princess runs, to prevent drowning and promote human development through the values of sport and education, told Vatican Radio that the Pope's visit to the principality speaks to the values shared by the Foundation, care for the most vulnerable and the collective responsibility towards future generations. The Foundation has been built on three pillars, drowning prevention, known to swim and how to teach good values through the practice of sport. And this is this third pillar. It's at the very heart of the Foundation's mission. Princess Charlene being a former and Olympic athlete.

11:30She has always believed that sport is one of the most powerful tools to educate, inspire and unique young people. In 2025, we run 82 projects throughout the world, either locally or at the other end of the world. How do you think and do you hope the populous visit will benefit Monaco in itself and the work of the Foundation? It's very clear that this is a truly historic moment for Monaco. And every single Monagasc is welcoming this visit as a real honor. And we received it with gratitude and hope. I mean, that's a visit from the Holy Father carrying a message that resonates far beyond borders. And nowadays considering what's happening in the world, it's really something that is really welcome.

12:32Speaking of shared values, care for the most vulnerable and also the collective responsibility towards future generations. Of course, we hope that this visit is going to inspire others to join our effort. And we are very hopeful that this will encounter trends in existing partnerships and why not open new ones. And that was Anne Bajor, CEO of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, speaking there to Vatican radios. That brings us to the end of this edition of Vatican and World News for more on these and other stories. Visit our website at VaticanNews.va and also Facebook, X and Instagram.

13:34My thanks go to Daniela Georgian Studio in the Vatican. I'm Nidabledoni. Bye-bye.