Pope Leo XIV Tells 50,000 "peace is built by promoting a culture alternative to violence, through daily gestures, educational programs..." in Naples at Conclusion of his Visit on his 1st Anniversary as Pontiff
Pope Leo XIV calls for a renewed commitment to a peace at the conclusion of his pastoral visit to Pompeii and Naples on the first anniversary of his pontificate. Ending his long day, visiting Pompeii and nearby Naples on the first anniversary of his pontificate, Pope Leo met and greeted about 50,000 citizens gathered in the heart of Naples’ central and magnificent Piazza del Plebiscito. Arriving in the historic square from the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, he addressed civil authorities, the city's Archbishop, Cardinal Domenico Battaglia.
MEETING WITH THE CITIZENS
FULL TEXT ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
in Piazza del Plebiscito (Naples) on Friday, May 8, 2026
_____________________________
Brothers and sisters, thank you for your lovely welcome!
This embrace, this square, is a bit like the Colonnade of St. Peter's in Rome: you know how to welcome with such warmth! Thank you so much!
I thank the Mayor for the words he addressed to me, I greet all the civil and military authorities present, while I renew my gratitude to His Eminence the Archbishop and to all of you gathered here.
Against the backdrop of the Gospel scene of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, several voices have sprung up, introducing us to this beautiful meeting. They are the voices of Naples, the pearl of the Mediterranean, gazed upon from above by Vesuvius. These voices echo the ancient beauty of this city, bathed by the sea and kissed by the sun, yet also echo wounds, poverty, and fears. These voices tell of a Naples that often walks tired, disoriented, and disappointed, like the two disciples in the Gospel, a city in need of the closeness Jesus offered them. They are the voices of a people who, even today, feel the need to pause and ask themselves: what really matters?
Brothers and sisters, in this city flows a longing for life, justice, and goodness that cannot be overwhelmed by evil, discouragement, and resignation. Therefore, we must—not alone, but together—ask ourselves: what truly matters? What is necessary and important to resume our journey with the impetus of commitment rather than the weariness of disinterest, with the courage of doing good rather than the fear of evil, with the healing of wounds rather than indifference?
Naples today faces a dramatic paradox: the significant growth in tourists is struggling to match an economic dynamism capable of truly engaging the entire social community. The city remains marked by a social divide that no longer separates the center from the suburbs, but is actually pronounced within each area, with existential peripheries nestled even in the heart of the historic center. In many areas, a veritable geography of inequality and poverty can be seen, fueled by long-unresolved problems: income inequality, poor job prospects, a lack of adequate facilities and services, pervasive crime, the plight of unemployment, school dropouts, and other situations that burden the lives of many. Faced with these realities, which at times take on worrying proportions, the presence and action of the State is more necessary than ever, to provide security and trust to citizens and to eliminate the possibility of organized crime.
In this context, many Neapolitans nurture the desire for a city redeemed from evil and healed from its wounds. Often, they are true social heroes, women and men who dedicate themselves every day, sometimes simply by faithfully carrying out their duties, without appearing to do so, so that justice, truth, and beauty can find their way through the streets, institutions, and relationships. These people must not remain isolated, and for their commitment to permeate the very fabric of the city, we need to create connections, network, and build community.
I am happy to say that the Church in Naples is a "glue" that contributes significantly to this networking effort, uniting the efforts of individuals and connecting the energies, talents, and aspirations of many. It has done so by promoting an Educational Pact, which has received a generous response from the institutions—the Municipality, the Region, the Government—as well as from many ecclesial and non-profit organizations. I would therefore like to appeal to all of you: do not break this network that unites you, do not extinguish this light you have begun to kindle in the darkness, do not lose its color, this dream you are realizing for a better and more beautiful Naples! Continue to carry forward this Pact, gather your forces, work together, walk together—institutions, Church, and civil society—to uplift the city, protect your children from the snares of hardship and evil, and restore Naples to its calling to be a capital of humanity and hope.
I would also like to recall the journey this city has undertaken to rediscover its age-old vocation: to be a natural bridge between the shores of the Mediterranean. Naples must not remain a mere "postcard" for visitors, but must become an open construction site, where a concrete peace is built, verifiable in people's daily lives.
Peace begins in the human heart, passes through relationships, takes root in neighborhoods and suburbs, and expands to embrace the entire city and the world. This is why we feel it is urgent to work first within the city itself. Here, peace is built by promoting a culture alternative to violence, through daily gestures, educational programs, and practical choices for justice.
We know, in fact, that there is no peace without justice, and that justice, to be authentic, can never be separated from charity. It is from this perspective that experiences like the House of Peace, which welcomes children and mothers in need, and Casa Bartimaeus, a place of support for young people and adults in vulnerable situations, are born and developed: concrete signs of a peace that embraces hospitality, care, and the possibility of redemption.
Furthermore, together, the ecclesial community and the civil community are working to make Naples a "platform" for intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Through conferences, international awards, and programs to welcome young people from conflict zones—such as Gaza—you can continue to give voice, from the bottom up, to a culture of peace, countering the logic of confrontation and the use of force of arms as a supposed solution to conflicts.
In this sense, Naples continues to reveal its deepest heart in welcoming migrants and refugees, viewing them not as an emergency but as an opportunity for encounter and mutual enrichment. This is possible above all thanks to the work of the diocesan Caritas, which has also transformed the Port of Naples from a mere landing place to a living symbol of welcome, integration, and hope.
Brothers and sisters, Naples needs this surge, this explosive energy of goodness, the evangelical courage that enables us to renew everything. Let it be everyone's commitment: take it on and carry it forward together! Do it especially with young people, who are not just recipients but agents of change. It's not just about engaging them, but about acknowledging their space, trust, and responsibility, so they can contribute creatively to building good. In a world often marked by mistrust and a lack of opportunities, young people represent a vibrant and surprising resource. This is demonstrated by the experience of the Museo Diocesano Diffuso, where many of them are committed to preserving and sharing the city's cultural and spiritual heritage using new and accessible languages. This is demonstrated by the young people who, in the youth centers, passionately dedicate themselves to educating the youngest, becoming credible points of reference and witnesses to healthy relationships. This is further demonstrated by the numerous volunteers who dedicate themselves to charitable services, social initiatives, and support programs for those with disabilities.
These experiences are not marginal: they are already concrete signs of a young Church and a city capable of regenerating itself. I am certain that you will continue to cultivate them with boldness, passion, and the enthusiasm that distinguishes you.
I thank you, dearest ones, for your welcome, and I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary Most Holy and Saint Gennaro. May the Lord always keep you faithful to the Gospel and bless the city of Naples!
____________________________________
Pope Leo XIV's final greeting before leaving Piazza del Plebiscito
So before we leave, let's thank the choir and all the musicians this evening. Thank you! And thank you to all the sick people who accompanied us this evening: a special blessing for you! Thank you, thank you... Thank you all and "Viva Napoli."
FULL TEXT ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
in Piazza del Plebiscito (Naples) on Friday, May 8, 2026
_____________________________
Brothers and sisters, thank you for your lovely welcome!
This embrace, this square, is a bit like the Colonnade of St. Peter's in Rome: you know how to welcome with such warmth! Thank you so much!
I thank the Mayor for the words he addressed to me, I greet all the civil and military authorities present, while I renew my gratitude to His Eminence the Archbishop and to all of you gathered here.
Against the backdrop of the Gospel scene of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, several voices have sprung up, introducing us to this beautiful meeting. They are the voices of Naples, the pearl of the Mediterranean, gazed upon from above by Vesuvius. These voices echo the ancient beauty of this city, bathed by the sea and kissed by the sun, yet also echo wounds, poverty, and fears. These voices tell of a Naples that often walks tired, disoriented, and disappointed, like the two disciples in the Gospel, a city in need of the closeness Jesus offered them. They are the voices of a people who, even today, feel the need to pause and ask themselves: what really matters?
Brothers and sisters, in this city flows a longing for life, justice, and goodness that cannot be overwhelmed by evil, discouragement, and resignation. Therefore, we must—not alone, but together—ask ourselves: what truly matters? What is necessary and important to resume our journey with the impetus of commitment rather than the weariness of disinterest, with the courage of doing good rather than the fear of evil, with the healing of wounds rather than indifference?
Naples today faces a dramatic paradox: the significant growth in tourists is struggling to match an economic dynamism capable of truly engaging the entire social community. The city remains marked by a social divide that no longer separates the center from the suburbs, but is actually pronounced within each area, with existential peripheries nestled even in the heart of the historic center. In many areas, a veritable geography of inequality and poverty can be seen, fueled by long-unresolved problems: income inequality, poor job prospects, a lack of adequate facilities and services, pervasive crime, the plight of unemployment, school dropouts, and other situations that burden the lives of many. Faced with these realities, which at times take on worrying proportions, the presence and action of the State is more necessary than ever, to provide security and trust to citizens and to eliminate the possibility of organized crime.
In this context, many Neapolitans nurture the desire for a city redeemed from evil and healed from its wounds. Often, they are true social heroes, women and men who dedicate themselves every day, sometimes simply by faithfully carrying out their duties, without appearing to do so, so that justice, truth, and beauty can find their way through the streets, institutions, and relationships. These people must not remain isolated, and for their commitment to permeate the very fabric of the city, we need to create connections, network, and build community.
I am happy to say that the Church in Naples is a "glue" that contributes significantly to this networking effort, uniting the efforts of individuals and connecting the energies, talents, and aspirations of many. It has done so by promoting an Educational Pact, which has received a generous response from the institutions—the Municipality, the Region, the Government—as well as from many ecclesial and non-profit organizations. I would therefore like to appeal to all of you: do not break this network that unites you, do not extinguish this light you have begun to kindle in the darkness, do not lose its color, this dream you are realizing for a better and more beautiful Naples! Continue to carry forward this Pact, gather your forces, work together, walk together—institutions, Church, and civil society—to uplift the city, protect your children from the snares of hardship and evil, and restore Naples to its calling to be a capital of humanity and hope.
I would also like to recall the journey this city has undertaken to rediscover its age-old vocation: to be a natural bridge between the shores of the Mediterranean. Naples must not remain a mere "postcard" for visitors, but must become an open construction site, where a concrete peace is built, verifiable in people's daily lives.
Peace begins in the human heart, passes through relationships, takes root in neighborhoods and suburbs, and expands to embrace the entire city and the world. This is why we feel it is urgent to work first within the city itself. Here, peace is built by promoting a culture alternative to violence, through daily gestures, educational programs, and practical choices for justice.
We know, in fact, that there is no peace without justice, and that justice, to be authentic, can never be separated from charity. It is from this perspective that experiences like the House of Peace, which welcomes children and mothers in need, and Casa Bartimaeus, a place of support for young people and adults in vulnerable situations, are born and developed: concrete signs of a peace that embraces hospitality, care, and the possibility of redemption.
Furthermore, together, the ecclesial community and the civil community are working to make Naples a "platform" for intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Through conferences, international awards, and programs to welcome young people from conflict zones—such as Gaza—you can continue to give voice, from the bottom up, to a culture of peace, countering the logic of confrontation and the use of force of arms as a supposed solution to conflicts.
In this sense, Naples continues to reveal its deepest heart in welcoming migrants and refugees, viewing them not as an emergency but as an opportunity for encounter and mutual enrichment. This is possible above all thanks to the work of the diocesan Caritas, which has also transformed the Port of Naples from a mere landing place to a living symbol of welcome, integration, and hope.
Brothers and sisters, Naples needs this surge, this explosive energy of goodness, the evangelical courage that enables us to renew everything. Let it be everyone's commitment: take it on and carry it forward together! Do it especially with young people, who are not just recipients but agents of change. It's not just about engaging them, but about acknowledging their space, trust, and responsibility, so they can contribute creatively to building good. In a world often marked by mistrust and a lack of opportunities, young people represent a vibrant and surprising resource. This is demonstrated by the experience of the Museo Diocesano Diffuso, where many of them are committed to preserving and sharing the city's cultural and spiritual heritage using new and accessible languages. This is demonstrated by the young people who, in the youth centers, passionately dedicate themselves to educating the youngest, becoming credible points of reference and witnesses to healthy relationships. This is further demonstrated by the numerous volunteers who dedicate themselves to charitable services, social initiatives, and support programs for those with disabilities.
These experiences are not marginal: they are already concrete signs of a young Church and a city capable of regenerating itself. I am certain that you will continue to cultivate them with boldness, passion, and the enthusiasm that distinguishes you.
I thank you, dearest ones, for your welcome, and I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary Most Holy and Saint Gennaro. May the Lord always keep you faithful to the Gospel and bless the city of Naples!
____________________________________
Pope Leo XIV's final greeting before leaving Piazza del Plebiscito
So before we leave, let's thank the choir and all the musicians this evening. Thank you! And thank you to all the sick people who accompanied us this evening: a special blessing for you! Thank you, thank you... Thank you all and "Viva Napoli."
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