Pope meets with Italian secret agents and urges them to be ethical

In a rare and unprecedented meeting, Pope Leo XIV addressed members of Italy’s intelligence services on Friday, issuing a stark warning against the misuse of confidential information for unethical purposes such as blackmail or intimidation.

The pontiff met with the agents—colloquially known in Italy as “007s”—during celebrations marking the centennial of the country’s intelligence services. The audience is believed to be the first of its kind between a pope and Italian intelligence officials, highlighting the unique relationship between Vatican security and Italian state agencies.

“Remain vigilant to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit politicians, journalists, or other actors in civil society,” the Pope cautioned during his address. His warning comes amid heightened security cooperation between Italian intelligence and Vatican authorities during the current Holy Year, which has drawn approximately 30 million pilgrims to Rome.

While acknowledging the challenging and delicate nature of intelligence work, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical standards and respecting human dignity. He urged the agents to ensure their actions remain “proportionate to the common good” and that national security objectives never override fundamental rights such as privacy, freedom of conscience, and the right to fair trial.

The Pope’s remarks appear timely, coming approximately a year after the Vatican launched a criminal investigation into alleged information leaks connected to what observers have called the “trial of the century”—a probe into a controversial London property investment. The leak surfaced during a separate Italian investigation involving a financial police official accused of improperly accessing a national police database and sharing sensitive information about prominent figures with journalists.

During his address, the pontiff also made reference to the Catholic Church’s own experiences with information being weaponized against it. While he did not provide specific examples, his comments likely allude to situations like the ongoing persecution of Catholic clergy in Nicaragua, where priests have been imprisoned as part of President Daniel Ortega’s crackdown on the Church. The Nicaraguan government has accused ecclesiastical figures of supporting anti-government protests, while Church observers maintain these actions represent attempts to silence religious opposition to state violence.

The meeting underscores the complex security landscape surrounding the Vatican, particularly during major religious events. Intelligence professionals play a crucial role in safeguarding both the Vatican and the millions of visitors who travel to Rome for religious pilgrimages. This year’s Holy Year celebrations have created additional security challenges, requiring close coordination between Vatican and Italian authorities.

Security cooperation between Italy and the Holy See has deepened in recent decades, particularly following global terrorist threats and increased concerns about potential attacks on religious sites. The Vatican’s small police force relies heavily on Italian expertise and resources to manage large-scale events and address sophisticated security threats.

For Italy’s intelligence community, the papal audience represents a significant moment of recognition during their centennial celebrations, though accompanied by a clear moral directive to maintain ethical standards in their operations.

The Pope concluded his remarks by thanking the agents for their service while reminding them of their ultimate responsibility to protect not only security interests but also fundamental human rights and dignities—a balancing act that defines modern intelligence work in democratic societies.