Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed fundamental Catholic teachings on
marriage and abortion on Friday, emphasizing that the family is founded on the
"stable union between a man and a woman" and that the unborn possess
inherent dignity as creations of God.
Pope Leo, the first American to lead the Catholic Church,
made the remarks during his inaugural meeting with the Vatican's diplomatic
corps. Although the audience was held privately, the Vatican released both the
pope's prepared remarks and those of the dean of the diplomatic corps.
The meeting, a traditional step after a papal conclave,
serves as an opportunity for the newly elected pope to greet representatives of
global governments before his formal investiture Mass, scheduled for this
Sunday, Fox Local reported.