Pope Leo XIV says "in several countries, the Church is the victim of intelligence services that act for evil purposes, oppressing its freedom" to Intelligence

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY INFORMATION SYSTEM
OF THE REPUBLIC
Hall of Blessing on Friday, December 12, 2025
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Distinguished Authorities,
brothers and sisters!

I am pleased to welcome you on this centenary of the founding of the Service responsible for intelligence activities in Italy. It was 1925 when the Military Intelligence Service was established, laying the foundations for a more coordinated and effective system to protect the security of the State.

First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for the work you do, which requires competence, transparency, and confidentiality. It entrusts you with the grave responsibility of constantly monitoring the dangers that could loom over the life of the nation, in order to contribute above all to the preservation of peace. This is demanding work, which, due in part to its confidentiality, often runs the risk of being exploited, but it is of the utmost importance for early detection of potential threatening scenarios for the life of society.

Over the course of these hundred years, much has changed: skills and tools have become much more refined, just as the challenges our societies face have increased and diversified. In this regard, I would like to urge you to carry out your work not only with professionalism, but also with an ethical perspective that takes into account at least two essential aspects: respect for human dignity and the ethics of communication .

First of all, respect for the dignity of the human person . Security activities must never lose sight of this fundamental dimension and can never fail to respect the dignity and rights of each individual. In certain difficult circumstances, when the common good to be pursued seems more necessary than all else, we can run the risk of forgetting this ethical requirement and, therefore, it is not always easy to find a balance. As the European Commission for Democracy through Law has stated , security agencies often have to collect information on individuals and, therefore, have a strong impact on individual rights. [1]

It is therefore necessary to establish limits, based on the dignity of the individual, and to remain vigilant against the temptations to which a job like yours exposes you. Ensure that your actions are always proportionate to the common good to be pursued, and that the protection of national security always guarantees the rights of individuals, their private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial. In this regard, the activities of the Services must be governed by laws, duly promulgated and published, subject to judicial oversight and scrutiny, and budgets must be subject to public and transparent scrutiny.

The second aspect concerns the ethics of communication . The world of communications has changed significantly in recent decades, and today, the digital revolution is simply part of our lives and the way we exchange information and interact. Furthermore, the advent of new and increasingly advanced technologies offers us greater opportunities, but at the same time exposes us to constant dangers. The massive and continuous exchange of information requires us to be vigilant and critical of several vital issues: the distinction between truth and fake news , the undue exposure of private life, the manipulation of the most vulnerable, the logic of blackmail, and the incitement to hatred and violence.

We must be rigorously vigilant to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit the services of politicians, journalists, or other civil society actors. This also applies to the ecclesiastical sphere. Indeed, in several countries, the Church is the victim of intelligence services that act for evil purposes, oppressing its freedom. These risks must always be assessed and require high moral standing in those preparing to undertake a job like yours, and in those who have been doing it for a long time.

I am well aware of the delicate role and responsibility you are called to. In this regard, I would also like to remember those of your colleagues who lost their lives on sensitive missions, carried out in challenging contexts. Their dedication may not be reflected in the headlines, but it lives on in the people they helped and the crises they helped resolve.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the efforts of the Italian intelligence services in ensuring the security of the Holy See and the Vatican City State. And here I would like to express my gratitude for the collaboration with the Gendarmerie, with the Vatican, and with the Holy See, in so many services, where this ability and opportunity to serve others truly comes true thanks to the good collaboration with you.

I encourage you to continue your work, always keeping the common good in mind, learning to evaluate with judgment and balance the different situations you face, and remaining firmly anchored to those legal and ethical principles that place the dignity of the human person above all else.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I congratulate you on your decision to celebrate the Jubilee together as a working community. God's grace will surely bear fruit on a personal level and, consequently, in your work. This is my wish, which I accompany with my Apostolic Blessing for you and your families. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

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[1] See Venice Commission, Report on the Democratic oversight of the Security Services (1-2 June 2007), § 2.
Source: Translation from Italian at Vatican.va Bulletin with Vatican Media Image