In his inaugural address to the Vatican’s diplomatic corps on Friday, newly elected Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s traditional teachings on marriage and abortion. He said that the family is founded on the “stable union between a man and a woman” and stressed the inherent dignity of both the unborn and the elderly as creations of God.
The address, a formal protocol following a papal election, marked Pope Leo’s first official engagement with representatives from the nearly 200 nations with which the Holy See maintains diplomatic ties. He also underscored the importance of international cooperation and highlighted interfaith dialogue as a vital tool for achieving global peace.
The Pope’s official installation Mass is scheduled for Sunday, May 18. A member of the Augustinian religious order, Leo has consistently prioritised peace since his election, greeting the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the words: “Peace be with you all.”
On the role of women in the Church, Pope Leo’s past actions reflect both progress and tradition. While serving under Pope Francis, he helped implement reforms allowing women to participate in bishop-nomination reviews. However, he has maintained that women cannot be ordained as priests and has offered limited clarity on their future roles in Church ministry.