Pope Leo XIV says "even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and their rights, in particular the right to live"

Pope Leo XIV received in audience a delegation from the Chagos Refugees Group.

The pope spoke to them this morning, August 23, in the Vatican. The delegation was working to secure the return of the Chagos Islands to the Republic of Mauritius. This process concluded in May 2025 with the United Kingdom's signing of a treaty providing for the cession of the archipelago to the African country and the maintenance of a US military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean

FULL TEXT GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV
TO A DELEGATION OF THE CHAGOS REFUGEES GROUP
Popes' Hall on Saturday, August 23, 2025
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I cordially greet  you, members of the delegation of the Chagos Refugees Group , who have been working tirelessly for many years for the return of the Chagossian people to their islands. I fully endorse the work of the late Pope Francis , whom you met in June 2023, and who encouraged you in your actions. Two years later, I am pleased that your cause has achieved a significant success, since the retrocession of the Chagos Archipelago to the Republic of Mauritius was recently obtained through the signing of a treaty.

This is a significant step toward your return home. I share your joy and hope. Together, let us give thanks to God by repeating the beautiful words of the psalm: What wonderful things the Lord has done for us! We are greatly delighted!... He who sows in tears will reap in joy (cf. Ps 125)

I thank all those involved who, opening their hearts, understood the suffering of your people and reached this agreement. I am pleased that dialogue and respect for the decisions of international law, as my predecessor had hoped upon his return from his trip to Mauritius , were finally able to redress a serious injustice (see Press Conference , 10 September 2019). I salute the determination of the Chagossian people, and in particular that of the women, in the peaceful assertion of their rights.

The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and has symbolic force on the international scene: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and their rights, in particular the right to live on their lands; and no one can force them into forced exile.

I now express the hope that the authorities of Mauritius, and also the international community, will commit themselves to ensuring that your return, after 60 years, takes place in the best possible conditions. The local Church will not fail to make its contribution, particularly spiritually, as it has always done in times of trial. These years of exile have caused much suffering among you. You have known poverty, contempt, and exclusion. May the Lord, with a view to a better future, heal your wounds and grant you the grace of forgiveness for those who have wronged you. I invite you to look resolutely toward the future.

May the Virgin Mary accompany and protect you and your families. I wholeheartedly impart to you and to all Chagossians the Apostolic Blessing.

Thank you so much !

Source: Vatican .va