Leo XIV at the Rimini Meeting, first pope in 44 years

Pope Leo XIV took part in the Comunione e Liberazione (CL) Meeting in Rimini, becoming the first pope to do so in 44 years. The last pontiff to attend the movement's annual gathering was John Paul II. Neither Benedict XVI nor Francis had ever taken part. The exact reasons for these absences are not known. Benedict XVI, however, was close to Don Giussani, the founder of CL, whose funeral he had celebrated. Francis had repeatedly stressed the good that ecclesial movements do for the Church, but had also called Comunione e Liberazione and other movements back into line, "as a father calls back his children," urging them not to lose their original charism.

On Saturday, the pope also visited the Republic of San Marino.

In Rimini, Leo XIV was welcomed by tens of thousands of people. He visited two exhibitions, one of them dedicated to Saint Augustine, an author he often refers to, met young people at the Meeting and gave a speech.

The Gospel at the centre of life

In his address, the pope invited the movement and the whole Church to place the Gospel at the centre of daily life, in society, in encounters with others and in work. "Let us free coexistence from suspicion, culture from arrogance, education from ideology, work from the idolatry of profit, technology and finance from the businesses of death," he said, adding that it was necessary, starting with the organisations we have created and in which we operate, to "unmask the unjust power relations that lie at the root of poverty and inequality, of war and environmental disasters."

The title of this year's Meeting is taken from the final line of the Divine Comedy, "L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle" (the love that moves the sun and the other stars). Before beginning his speech, stopping in front of the young people, Leo XIV told them: "it is love that changes the world, it is love that stops wars. It is love that stops selfishness, that breaks conflicts. The first ones who must love are us, you young people."

The pope described the gathering as an occasion for friendship between peoples, a theme he has pursued since the start of his pontificate. "Peace is guarded and spread by people who love meeting each other and are not afraid to confront each other," he said, recalling that "before borders, definitions and institutions there are always people. This awareness is at the heart of Christianity."