Pope Leo condemns restrictions on freedom of speech and religion in the West

Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on January 8, 2026. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

On January 9, 2026, Pope Leo XIV published a statement on the social network X addressing restrictions on basic rights and freedoms in Western countries. These theses were later developed in the text of his address to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

In his post, the pontiff described what he called a “short circuit” in the human-rights system – a situation in which freedom of opinion, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and even the right to life are increasingly curtailed in the name of “new rights,” thereby undermining the very idea of protecting human dignity.

It is noted that such a situation arises when certain rights lose their connection to reality, to human nature, and to truth – turning from a universal mechanism of protection into an instrument of pressure against those who dissent.

These assessments were further elaborated in the address itself, which highlights that in the West the space for genuine freedom of expression, conscience, and religious confession is steadily narrowing, despite declarations of commitment to democratic values.

A separate emphasis is placed on the right to life: the document states that support for abortion and the legalization of euthanasia are viewed as an encroachment on human dignity. It also notes that such restrictions especially affect Christians in Europe and America, who encounter obstacles to the public confession of faith and to the defense of traditional values.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Pope Leo congratulated Orthodox Christians on Christmas according to the Julian calendar.

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