In an audience with the prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Pope Leo XIV approved the promulgation of decrees that pave the way for the beatification of two Servants of God and recognize the heroic virtue of four others.

“I send warm greetings to those of you participating in the 2026 March for Life,” Pope Leo began. “I likewise express heartfelt appreciation, and assure you of my spiritual closeness as you gather for this eloquent public witness to affirm that the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every other human right.”

“I would encourage you, especially the young people, to continue striving to ensure that life is respected in all of its stages through appropriate efforts at every level of society, including dialogue with civil and political leaders,” the Pope continued. “May Jesus, who promised to be with us always (cf. Mt 28:20), accompany you today as you courageously and peacefully march on behalf of unborn children.”

“By advocating for them, please know that you are fulfilling the Lord’s command to serve him in the least of our brothers and sisters (cf. Mt 25:31-46),” he added in his message, dated January 17 and released yesterday.

“We specifically call upon world leaders to demonstrate measurable progress toward nuclear disarmament,” the prelates said. “Eight decades of nuclear threats are far too long, as evidenced by the horrors documented by the atomic bombing museums in Japan. It is long past time for the nuclear weapons powers to begin to make tangible progress toward that end.”

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli of Gorizia, Italy, as the secretary, or second-ranking official, of the Dicastery for the Clergy.