Pope urges Catholic lawmakers to look to ‘City of God’

Speaking to the International Catholic Legislators Network in the Apostolic Palace on August 23, the Pope called on politicians to ensure that “power is tamed by conscience and law is at the service of human dignity”.

“Authentic human flourishing is seen when individuals live virtuously, when they live in healthy communities, enjoying not only what they have, what they possess, but also who they are as children of God,” the Pope said.

“It ensures the freedom to seek truth, to worship God and to raise families in peace. It also includes a harmony with creation and a sense of solidarity across social classes and nations.”

In his speech, Pope Leo pointed to St Augustine of Hippo, who wrote The City of God, which is a “work that offers a vision of hope, a vision of meaning that can still speak to us today”.

The Pope shared how St Augustine taught that there are two “cities” intertwined in human history that signify two orientations of the human heart: “The City of Man, built on pride and love of oneself, is marked by the pursuit of power, prestige and pleasure; the City of God, built on love of God unto selflessness, is characterised by justice, charity and humility.”

Pope Leo said that lawmakers are called to act as “bridge-builders between the City of God and the City of Man”.

“Augustine encouraged Christians to infuse the earthly society with the values of God’s kingdom, thereby directing history toward its ultimate fulfilment in God, while also allowing for authentic human flourishing in this life,” he said.

“The future of human flourishing depends on which ‘love’ we choose to organise our society around — a selfish love, the love of self, or the love of God and neighbour.”

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Pope Leo XIV urges Catholic legislators to look to Augustine’s ‘City of God’ (By Courtney Mares/CNA)