The Pope warns against political idolatry that claims to be free but "is a slave to power"

Pope Leo XIV visited the Republic of San Marino on Saturday, August 22. During his visit, he delivered a message warning against the dangers of political and economic projects that claim to champion freedom while remaining subservient to power and ideology.

The pontiff characterized this phenomenon as a form of idolatry that ultimately compromises the integrity of such initiatives. By framing these projects as 'slaves to idols and power,' the Pope cautioned against the hypocrisy of movements that present themselves as liberated but fail to escape the influence of systemic control.