Pope Leo XIV has strongly criticised the growing inequality between the wealthy and the poor, describing it as a serious global concern during his visit to Monaco on Saturday.
According to AFP, the pope made the remarks during his first trip to Western Europe since the start of his papacy, choosing the affluent principality often associated with extreme wealth as a symbolic backdrop for his message.
The pontiff arrived in Monaco by helicopter from Rome and was received at Monte Carlo’s heliport by the country’s ruler, Prince Albert II, alongside Princess Charlene.
Speaking shortly after his arrival, Pope Leo XIV lamented what he described as widening “chasms between the poor and the rich.” Delivering an address in French from the balcony of the Prince’s Palace, he condemned what he called “unjust configurations of power” and “structures of sin” that deepen divisions between privileged and marginalized groups.
He stressed that wealth should be used to promote “law and justice,” especially at a time when global tensions and conflicts are escalating. Without naming specific countries, the pope warned that displays of force and a growing “logic of omnipotence” are harming the world and threatening peace.
AFP reports that his remarks highlight increasing concern within the Church about inequality and its impact on global stability.
