New pope reaffirms traditional marriage, dignity of unborn

Pope Leo XIV reiterated the importance of traditional family values while addressing diplomatic representatives from governments around the world on Friday. Leo delivered the address behind closed doors, but the Holy See released a copy of his prepared remarks. Government leaders can achieve peaceful societies by investing in families built on a stable union between a man and a woman, he said. He then emphasized the importance of respecting human dignity in the most vulnerable populations, including the unborn, the elderly, the citizen, and the immigrant alike. He identified peace, justice, and truth as pillars of the church’s mission, and hoped that the Vatican would preserve a sense of family during diplomatic dialogues.

Why was he addressing diplomats? Church protocol requires that a newly elected pope greet representatives of world leaders after the conclave, but before his formal installation, according to Vatican state news. The Vatican planned to formally install Leo as pontiff during an inaugural public Mass on Sunday, May 18, in St. Peter’s Square, according to a schedule released last week.

Dig deeper: Read my report for more background on Leo XIV, the first American pope.