President Ramaphosa Urges Global Solidarity And Reform In Historic Address To Pope Leo XIV

Vatican City — 8 November 2025

In a solemn and symbolic moment at the Vatican, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a powerful message to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, calling for a renewed global commitment to peace, equality and sustainable development. Speaking during his official visit to Vatican City, President Ramaphosa emphasised the need for collective action in a world grappling with conflict, inequality and environmental decline.

The President began by conveying warm greetings from the government and people of South Africa and expressed gratitude for the Pope’s welcome to “this Eternal City and the heart of the Catholic faith.” He reaffirmed South Africa’s prayers and support for the Pope’s leadership, particularly during a time of global upheaval.

A world funding war instead of peace

Ramaphosa painted a stark picture of a world where “it seems easier to fund wars than to invest in peace,” noting the intensifying conflicts from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Ukraine and Palestine. These crises, he said, are a testament to the urgent need for solidarity and a strengthened multilateral system.

“These global challenges cannot be resolved by nations acting alone,” he cautioned. “Only through solidarity.”

Inequality and environmental strain

The President highlighted worsening global inequality and unsustainable modes of production and consumption that threaten future generations. He warned that humanity must “think beyond the immediate and commit to sustainable solutions.”

Ramaphosa said South Africa’s G20 Presidency presents an opportunity to drive this agenda, guided by the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” and the deeply rooted South African philosophy of Ubuntu, which recognises shared humanity as the foundation of progress.

Honouring Pope Francis and welcoming Pope Leo XIV

Reflecting on the passing of Pope Francis, President Ramaphosa said the late pontiff “was able to draw the world together to seek answers to the most pressing questions of our time.” He described Pope Leo XIV’s election as a source of “hope and encouragement.”

With nearly four million Catholics in South Africa, he underscored the role faith communities have played in the country’s struggle for democracy and social justice.

A call to wealthy nations and the reform of global finance

In one of the most pointed sections of his message, Ramaphosa urged wealthy nations to “embrace their duty to the poor… not as an act of charity, but to build a just world.”

He echoed the Vatican’s Jubilee Commission Report and its push for reform of global financial systems, noting that “many African countries spend more on servicing debt than on education or healthcare.”

“Innovative financial instruments and reforms… are essential if we are to build a fairer, more peaceful and prosperous world,” he added.

Dialogue, reconciliation and South Africa’s unique role

Drawing from South Africa’s history of negotiated peace, the President said the nation carries “a unique heritage” and a responsibility to help foster dialogues in conflict zones.

“Even the bitterest of enemies can sit at a common table — that is our knowledge, and that is what we offer to the world,” he said.

Invitation to visit South Africa

In a significant gesture, Ramaphosa extended a formal invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit South Africa, in a joint appeal with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

“We would be greatly honoured to host you in our beautiful country,” he said.

The President concluded by expressing gratitude for being received at the Vatican during the Jubilee Year of Hope and for the opportunity to walk through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica — a moment he described as a blessing he would “carry back to the people of South Africa.”

As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit later this month, Ramaphosa’s address signals the nation’s intent to shape global discourse on justice, peace and inclusive development, with the moral weight of the Vatican recognised as a crucial partner in this mission.