Build the City of God, Not Babylon: Pope Leo’s Message to Catholic Lawmakers

Pope Leo XIV addressed the International Catholic Legislators Network on August 23, 2025, urging lawmakers to draw inspiration from St. Augustine’s “City of God” as they navigate the complexities of modern politics.

 

Speaking in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, the Pope emphasized the importance of ensuring that “power is tamed by conscience and law is at the service of human dignity.”

 

He cautioned against reducing human flourishing to mere material wealth or consumer comfort, highlighting that true prosperity arises when individuals live virtuously within healthy communities, recognizing their identity as children of God.

 

“It ensures the freedom to seek truth, to worship God, and to raise families in peace,” he stated, underscoring the need for harmony with creation and solidarity across social classes and nations.

 

The International Catholic Legislators Network, established in 2010, convenes Catholic parliamentarians annually in Rome to discuss topics such as religious liberty, Church-state relations, and the role of Catholic thought in politics.

 

This year’s meeting focused on “The New World Order: Major Power Politics, Corporate Dominions, and the Future of Human Flourishing.”

 

In his address, Pope Leo referenced St. Augustine of Hippo, who authored “The City of God” during the decline of the Roman Empire.

 

He explained that Augustine identified two intertwined “cities” in human history: the City of Man, built on pride and self-love, characterized by the pursuit of power, prestige, and pleasure; and the City of God, founded on love of God and selflessness, marked by justice, charity, and humility.

 

The Pope called on lawmakers to act as “bridge-builders between the City of God and the City of Man,” encouraging them to infuse earthly society with the values of God’s kingdom to promote authentic human flourishing.

 

He challenged prevailing cultural notions of progress, stating, “Today, a flourishing life is often confused with a materially wealthy life or a life of unrestricted individual autonomy and pleasure.”

 

Instead, he advocated for “integral human development,” encompassing the full development of a person in all dimensions: physical, social, cultural, moral, and spiritual.

 

Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the Order of St. Augustine, has frequently cited his spiritual father, St. Augustine, establishing a pastoral approach deeply rooted in the Augustinian tradition.

 

Concluding his address, the Pope thanked the lawmakers for bringing the Gospel message into the public arena and assured them of his prayers for their efforts toward the true flourishing of the human family.