Meeting members of Italy’s national Carabinieri police force at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV called on Christians to return to the heart of the Christian message and to carry out their responsibilities with an “upright conscience.”
Welcoming the officers who serve Rome and the surrounding province, the Pope expressed gratitude for their work maintaining public order and security, especially during the demanding Jubilee Year.
He noted that the presence of pilgrims in the city had been a source of encouragement not only for visitors, but also for those who live and work in Rome.
“The witness of so many pilgrims has strengthened and uplifted us,” he said.
The Gospel’s quiet transformation
Pope Leo reflected on the earliest days of Christianity, when the message of Jesus began spreading through Roman society, including within the military.
The Christian proclamation, he explained, introduced something entirely new: a belief in a God of love, mercy, and forgiveness, and a vision of fraternity that crossed social and ethnic boundaries.
Addressing the Carabinieri, a corps built on hierarchy and discipline, the Pope drew a parallel with the history of Christianity itself. Over the centuries, the Gospel profoundly influenced civilizations not through force, but through interior change.
Rather than political upheaval, he said, Christianity worked by transforming consciences and hearts.
Through this quiet transformation, the faith brought a deeper understanding of both God and the dignity of every human person, rooted in respect for life and worship of God alone.
Relevant for Today
The Pope then posed a question: can this same renewal happen today, in a modern and complex society?
His answer was clear. It must.
He urged believers to rediscover what he called the “essential core” of Christianity and the spirit of the early Church, and to live it in contemporary society. Quoting the Letter to the Hebrews, he reminded listeners:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Duty and Conscience
Turning directly to the officers before him, Pope Leo encouraged them to carry out their duties faithfully and with moral integrity. Professional discipline, he said, must be accompanied by Christian charity.
He asked them to remain faithful both to the principles of their service and to the Gospel, allowing Christ’s charity to shape every intention and action.
Concluding the audience, the Pope entrusted the Carabinieri to the protection of Mary under the title Virgo Fidelis and offered his blessing to the officers, their families, and their work.