Pope Leo to Participants of the Rimini Meeting: “Hope Does Not Disappoint”

Rimini, Italy, August 22, 2025 —Pope Leo called on delegates participating in the 46th Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy, to be peacemakers who work for the common good in a message released Thursday and signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The event, organised every year by the Communion and Liberation Movement, is taking place in the northern Italian seaside town of Rimini under the theme “In the vacant places we will build with new bricks.”

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In his message, the Holy Father greeted organisers, volunteers, and participants, expressing his hope that they may recognise with joy that “hope does not disappoint”. He emphasised that deserts, often perceived as barren and lifeless, are precisely where “Sacred Scripture continually recounts the passing of God,” reminding the faithful that life and renewal can emerge even from desolation.

The Holy Father commended the organisers for the hallmark exhibition of this year’s Meeting dedicated to the witness of the Martyrs of Algeria. He emphasised that the life of the martyrs reflects the Church’s vocation to dwell in the desert in profound communion with all humanity—overcoming walls of mistrust that divide religions and cultures—by fully imitating the movement of the Incarnation and self-giving of the Son of God. He also urged Catholics to promote nonviolence, foster mediation in local conflicts, and transform fear of others into opportunities for encounter.

Calling for practical steps toward harmony, Pope Leo stated that “peace is not a spiritual utopia; it is a humble path made of daily gestures.” He invited communities to become “houses of peace”, where hostility is defused through dialogue, where justice is practised, and forgiveness is guarded.

The Pontiff warned against pursuing economic growth without equity and sustainability, labelling the “idolatry of profit” as a major threat to justice, human interaction, and peace. He stressed that authentic faith must resist the “desertification of the world” and embody true discipleship through solidarity and service.

Addressing the challenges of modern technology, Pope Leo cautioned that the ongoing digital revolution risks deepening discrimination and conflict. He called for a creative and Spirit-led engagement with digital transformation so that “the desert becomes a garden, and the City of God transfigures our desolate places.”

The message concluded with the Pope’s blessing and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Morning, to guide participants in their mission of hope and peace.

Pope Leo to Participants of the Rimini Meeting: “Hope Does Not Disappoint”

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