Pope decries widening rich-poor gap on Monaco visitThe highlight of the papal visit to Monaco is to be an open-air mass at the Louis II Stadium, expected to be attended by 15,000 people. (Photo: AFP)MONACO - Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the widening gap between the haves and have-nots as he visited Monaco, a millionaires’ playground that is the surprise pick for the first western European trip of his papacy. Arriving by helicopter from Rome, the pope was greeted by Monaco’s ruler Prince Albert II and his wife, Princess Charlene, at Monte Carlo’s heliport under radiant sunshine. 'Powerful sign’“This visit is a powerful sign testifying to the Principality’s importance within the Catholic Christian world,” Prince Albert said in an interview with local daily Nice-Matin. Monaco Archbishop, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, said the pope is reaching out to “other cultures, other countries, other backgrounds and other languages” in the principality, home to some 140 nationalities.

Source: Bangkok Post March 28, 2026 18:44 UTC