Pope Leo XIV urges Monaco residents to use wealth for good, reject "idolatry of power and money" fueling wars

Pope Leo XIV visited Monaco and urged its residents to use their wealth for humanitarian purposes rather than pursue power and money, which he characterized as fueling global conflicts. The one-day trip marked the first papal visit to the principality since 1538, when Pope Paul III traveled there nearly 500 years ago. Monaco's status as one of the world's wealthiest microstates made it a significant platform for the pontiff to deliver a message about the moral responsibilities of the affluent. The visit underscores the Vatican's ongoing efforts to address economic inequality and the role of materialism in geopolitical instability. Leo XIV's appeal to a concentrated population of the ultra-wealthy represents a direct attempt to influence how global wealth influences conflict and peace.