杏MAP导航 Leo XIV to Centesimus Annus Foundation: 'Give voice to the poor'
By Kielce Gussie
The Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation commemorated its 2025 General Assembly and International Conference from May 15-17 in Rome, and the last day kicked off with a private audience with 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV.
The conference鈥檚 theme was 鈥淥vercoming Polarization and Rebuilding Global Governance: The Ethical Foundations,鈥� and the 杏MAP导航 focused his message on the theme鈥檚 connection to the heart of the Church鈥檚 Social Doctrine.
Build bridges of dialogue
杏MAP导航 Leo challenged the Foundation members to help each other in the mission he spoke of the night he was elected: 鈥淏uild bridges鈥攖hrough dialogue, through encounter鈥攗niting all people to be one people, always in peace.鈥�
He reminded them that this is not something spontaneous or improvised. Rather, it requires a combination of both grace and freedom.
A time of 鈥減olycrisis鈥�
During his speech, the 杏MAP导航 recalled his predecessor, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIII, who 鈥渟ought to contribute to peace by promoting social dialogue鈥� in the midst of the struggles of his time in history.
Modern times are no different, he noted. The Holy Father recalled how 杏MAP导航 Francis described it as a 鈥減olycrisis,鈥� filled with war, climate crises, growing inequality, forced migration, poverty, and lessened rights.
In the midst of these societal, environmental, and social challenges, the Church鈥檚 Social Doctrine 鈥渙ffers interpretative keys that bring science and conscience into dialogue.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Leo XIV reminded the Foundation members that what matters more than the problems is how people respond to them鈥斺�渦sing ethical principles, sound criteria for evaluation, and openness to God鈥檚 grace.鈥�
Social Doctrine in today鈥檚 world
In his message, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV emphasized the need in today鈥檚 ongoing digital revolution to 鈥渞ediscover, articulate, and cultivate the mission of educating in critical thinking.鈥� He warned against letting dialogue decline and allowing irrational voices to spread fake news and dogmatic claims.
To do this, he said, 鈥渟tudy and thoughtful reflection are essential鈥攁s are encounters with and listening to the poor.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 argued the poor are a treasure both of the Church and of humanity because they offer perspectives, which are 鈥渙ften dismissed, yet crucial for seeing the world through God鈥檚 eyes.鈥�
鈥淕ive voice to the poor,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV stressed. He invited the Centesimus Annus Foundation to 鈥減articipate actively and creatively鈥� in helping develop the Church鈥檚 Social Doctrine together with the 鈥減eople of God, in this time of great social upheaval, through attentive listening and open dialogue to all.鈥�
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