In a statement that was poorly covered internationally, with the exception of an AP wire that got second-rank headlines on mainstream media, Pope Leo XIV called for reviving “The Spirit Of Helsinki” at the end of the General Audience on July 30, 2025. That statement has a special importance in view of the Schiller Institute-backed call on the Pope to launch a peace initiative among great powers, especially because it connects to the role played by the Vatican in the process that led to the 1975 conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, “the Spirit of Helsinki.”
“On 1 August, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act will be commemorated,” the Pope said. “Motivated by the desire to ensure security during the Cold War, 35 countries launched a new geopolitical chapter, fostering a rapprochement between East and West. This event also marked renewed interest in human rights, with special emphasis on religious freedom—regarded as one of the cornerstones of the then emerging architecture of cooperation ‘from Vancouver to Vladivostok.’ The Holy See’s active participation in the Helsinki Conference—represented by Archbishop Agostino Casaroli—helped to promote political and moral commitment to peace. Today, more than ever, it is essential to safeguard the spirit of Helsinki: to persevere in dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and make diplomacy the preferred path to prevent and resolve conflicts.”