Summary
The article reports that on February 18, 2026, the man residing in the Vatican and calling himself “Pope Leo XIV” addressed the association Pro Petri Sede. He asserted that the successor of Peter must retain “complete freedom to speak the truth, denounce injustice, defend the rights of the weakest, promote peace, and above all proclaim Jesus Christ.” He contrasted this with the historical role of the papal Zouaves who defended the Papal States with weapons, stating today’s commitment is through prayer and material aid. He linked this “sovereign freedom” to the pope’s mission to gather the faithful and proclaim the Gospel, claiming this freedom is essential in “troubled times.” The source is EWTN News, citing ACI Prensa, from February 18, 2026.
This speech is a quintessential product of the conciliar revolution, replacing the Catholic Church’s divinely mandated mission to proclaim the exclusive, social reign of Christ the King with a vague, naturalistic, and relativistic agenda of “defending truth” and “rights” that fundamentally contradicts integral Catholic doctrine.