Pope Leo XIV defines Church authority as service

Pope Leo XIV has emphasized that authority within the Church must be defined by service. During a Mass in Rimini, following visits to San Marino and the Meeting for Friendship Among Nations, the Pope stated that all authority at every level—including popes, bishops, and priests—is a form of service intended for the good of others.

In a subsequent Angelus prayer, the Pope urged believers to avoid closing themselves within their own certainties and instead maintain an authentic, personal relationship with Christ. He cautioned against allowing faith to become a mere habit and called for continuous spiritual renewal.

Additionally, the Pope appealed for international assistance for those affected by the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and expressed remembrance for the victims of a mining accident in the Central African Republic.