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Pope Leo XIV Calls for Catholic Lawmakers to Promote a “Politics of Hope”

On 23rd August 2025, Pope Leo XIV greeted the members of the International Catholic Network who gathered in the Vatican for the sixteenth annual meeting.

During the gathering, held in Clementine Hall, Pope Leo urged Catholic lawmakers to place human dignity and conscience at the centre of their work, calling for what he described as a “politics of hope”.

He noted that this year’s theme – “The New World Order: Major Power Politics, Corporate Dominions and the Future of Human Flourishing” – reflected both the concern about the direction in which the world is going and the longing for human flourishing where all people can live in peace, freedom and fulfilment in accordance with God’s plan.

The Holy Father suggested turning to the wisdom of Saint Augustine of Hippo, one of the most significant Christian thinkers, who in The City of God described two great forces at work in human history: the City of Man, driven by self-love in the pursuit of power, prestige, and pleasure, and the City of God, built on the love of God, justice, charity, and humility. Saint Augustine encouraged Christians to bring the values of God’s Kingdom into their daily lives to help society move towards its fulfilment in God and allow for authentic human flourishing.

The Pope warned against equating a flourishing life with a materially wealthy life accompanied by technological conveniences and consumer satisfaction, saying that even in wealthy societies, people suffer from loneliness and despair.

“Authentic human flourishing”, he said, “stems from what the Church calls integral human development, or the full development of a person in all dimensions: physical, social, cultural, moral, and spiritual.” Flourishing, as Pope Leo explained, is seen not only in what people possess but also in their ability to live virtuously in healthy communities, seek the truth, worship God, and raise families in peace. “It also includes a harmony with creation and a sense of solidarity across social classes and nations,” he added.

Pope Leo emphasised that the future depends on whether societies are organised around “selfish love” or “the love of God and neighbours.” He encouraged participants not to fall into “the dangerous and self-defeating mindset that says nothing will ever change but instead to embrace the politics, diplomacy, and economics of hope”.

At the end of his address, the Pope assured legislators of his prayers for them, their families, loved ones, friends and especially those they serve: “May the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, bless and guide your efforts for the true flourishing of the human family.”