Pope Urges Ethics-Driven Intelligence: Peace First, Dignity Always
In a speech to Italy’s secret services marking their centennial, Pope Leo XIV urged that security work be grounded in ethics, warning that the pursuit of peace must never compromise human dignity or truth.
By Francesca Merlo
During a reception for Italy’s Security Intelligence System on its 100th anniversary, the Pope noted that Italy’s first coordinated intelligence service was established in 1925, laying the groundwork for a more organized system dedicated to protecting national security.
A century later, he said, while tools and techniques have advanced greatly, so have the responsibilities and moral risks connected to this work.
Protecting peace while honoring human dignity
Addressing the intelligence professionals gathered at the Vatican on Friday, the Pope emphasized their grave duty to continuously monitor threats to the nation, with the primary aim of safeguarding peace. Their often unseen labor is vital because it seeks to anticipate crises before they arise.
Yet, the Pope warned that secrecy can open the door to misuse or instrumentalization. Therefore, he argued, professionalism must be paired with a steadfast ethical framework rooted in respect for the dignity of every person.
Security work, he asserted, must never lose sight of this core dimension or neglect the rights and dignity of individuals.
Even when urgent, the common good should not push ethics aside. Information gathering inevitably affects personal rights, a fact that calls for proportionality, clear legal rules, and ongoing oversight.
The Pope urged that intelligence activities be firmly regulated by law, subject to judicial review, and conducted with transparent financial practices. National security should never trump fundamental rights, including privacy and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial.
Ethics in communication
Leo XIV also highlighted the ethics of information exchange. In a world flooded with data and instantaneous messaging, he warned about misinformation, manipulation, and the exploitation of vulnerable groups.
The vast flow of information requires vigilance, especially when facing fake news, coercion, or calls to hatred and violence.
Confidential data must never be used to intimidate, coerce, blackmail, or discredit public figures, journalists, or civil society actors. The same caution extends to the Church. In some places, the Church itself can be targeted by intelligence operations carried out for improper ends, undermining its freedom.
Such dangers demand a high moral standard—from newcomers to veterans within intelligence services alike.
Honoring those who paid the ultimate price
Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to all who have sacrificed their lives on sensitive missions, often far from the public eye. Their dedication may not appear in headlines, but it endures in the lives they touched and the crises they helped avert.
As he concluded, the Pope thanked Italy’s intelligence community for safeguarding the Holy See and the Vatican City State. He urged professionals to balance their vocation with discernment, keeping the common good at the center and remaining firmly grounded in legal and ethical principles that prioritize human dignity above all else.
If you found this analysis insightful, consider subscribing to our daily newsletter for updates.
