Pope Leo XIV warns that addictions reveal the failure of a dehumanized world

In the face of the rise of addictions, Pope Leo XIV gave a speech where he raised the need to unite prevention efforts, scientific attention, justice, and pastoral accompaniment. In his meeting with participants of the initiative promoted by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, he stated that “Addictions are a complex phenomenon that highlights the failure of a dehumanized world”.

The Bishop of Rome linked the drama of addictions with the need to offer responses that involve different areas of society and the Church. “The suffering of young people calls for comprehensive responses: community prevention, scientific attention, justice with a human face, and close pastoral accompaniment,” he affirmed.

The Pontiff linked the response to addictions with the recovery of community ties and the support of suffering youth.. The contribution of the Church, he stated, must be oriented “toward care, presence, and the reconstruction of the community fabric.” In the meeting held in Rome, representatives from America, Asia, Africa, and Europe participated, sharing their experiences of accompaniment, prevention, recovery, and integration.

Robert Prevost emphasized the need to build alliances to respond to addictions, especially between the Church and international organizations. “The first bridge is between the Church and international organizations, as no one can face the problem of drugs alone,” he pointed out. In this sense, he highlighted the joint work between the OAS and the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam) in initiatives aimed at prevention and accompaniment.

Additionally, he called to integrate the Church's perspective with the contributions of science from various disciplines in the response to addictions. “The Church does not intervene in the problem of drugs with the intention of competing or taking the place of neuroscience, psychiatry, or public health; rather, it seeks to illuminate it from the Gospel with a comprehensive understanding of the human person,” he explained.

The Holy Father highlighted the role of the family as the primary space for prevention and accompaniment in the face of addictions. After recalling that the family is a “domestic Church,” he stated: “There is no better prevention against drugs than a good family.” He also linked this preventive task with the need for strengthen family and community environments capable of offering young people support, connections, and spaces for growth.

Finally, he called for the Church to be a welcoming space for those living in situations of vulnerability and suffering. “that the Church be the family of all the people who have been left by the wayside”, he observed. And, as a summary of his message, he urged: “let us build a Church that stops, draws near, is moved, anoints the wounds, nourishes, and becomes a home”.

Audiencia-Papa-Plapa-adicciones.pdf