Pope decries world leaders who disrespect rule of law

PARIS- Pope Leo on Friday decried world leaders who disrespect the rule of law in a speech at the Paris headquarters of the UN culture and education body, UNESCO, without naming individuals.

"Instead of respecting the law, those in power invoke it when it serves their interests and disregard it when it restrains them, treating even justice itself as though it were a commodity to be bought and sold," said the pontiff.

Leo, who became pope in 2025, has forcefully decried the direction of global leadership in recent months. He said the world was "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants" last April.

-Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Richard Lough/Reuters