Pope Leo XIV urges dialogue and friendship at Rimini Meeting

Pope Leo XIV made a day trip to the Italian coastal city of Rimini on Saturday, where he addressed tens of thousands of attendees at the annual Rimini Meeting, a major Catholic cultural festival organized by the Communion and Liberation movement.

In his speech, the Pope warned against a culture that "rearms minds, words and nations," and argued that Christians must respond with mercy, encounter, and a commitment to peace. The event drew large crowds, with young faithful gathering to see the pontiff as he arrived at the fairgrounds on the popemobile.

Earlier in the day, Leo visited the Republic of San Marino, the world's oldest surviving republic, where he addressed local authorities. Reflecting on the legacy of Saints Marino and Leone, he credited them with helping create a society rooted in freedom, mutual respect, and community.

Using the micro-state as an example, the Pope argued that small political communities can offer lessons in public service and social cohesion at a time of growing division and distrust. He praised a society "built on respect for one's own freedom and that of others and above all on respect for the sacred Will of God."

Leo also warned that modern societies face increasing threats from violence, social fragmentation, and ideologies that put self-interest ahead of the common good. He is the third pope to visit San Marino, following St. John Paul II in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.