In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
 

Distinguished Authorities,
Brothers and sisters!

I am pleased to welcome you on this centenary of the establishment of the Italian intelligence service. It was in 1925 that the Military Information Service was set up, laying the foundations for a more coordinated and effective system to protect national security.

First of all, I would like to express my appreciation for the work you do, which requires competence, transparency and confidentiality. It invests you with the serious responsibility of constantly monitoring the dangers that could threaten the life of the nation, in order to contribute above all to the protection of peace. It is a demanding job, which, due to its confidential nature, often runs the risk of being exploited, but which is of great importance in anticipating any scenarios that could be dangerous to the life of society.

Over the course of these hundred years, many things have changed, capabilities and tools have become much more sophisticated, and the challenges facing our societies have increased and diversified. In this regard, I would urge you to carry out your work not only with professionalism, but also with an ethical perspective that takes into account at least two essential aspects: respect for human dignity and the ethics of communication.

Firstly, respect for human dignity. Security activities must never lose sight of this fundamental dimension and must never fail to respect the dignity and rights of each individual. In certain difficult circumstances, when the common good seems more important than anything else, there is a risk of forgetting this ethical requirement, and therefore it is not always easy to find a balance. As the European Commission for Democracy through Law has stated, security agencies often have to collect information on individuals and therefore have a significant impact on individual rights.[1]

It is therefore necessary that limits be established, according to the criterion of human dignity, and that we remain vigilant against the temptations to which a job like yours exposes you. Ensure that your actions are always proportionate to the common good to be pursued and that the protection of national security always and in all cases guarantees people’s rights, their private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial. In this sense, the activities of the services must be governed by laws that are duly promulgated and published, subject to the control and supervision of the judiciary, and their budgets must be subject to public and transparent controls.

The second aspect concerns the ethics of communication. The world of communications has changed notably in recent decades and, today, the digital revolution is something that simply forms part of our life and of how we exchange information and interact with each other. Furthermore, the advent of new and increasingly advanced technologies offers us greater possibilities but, at the same time, exposes us to constant dangers. The massive and continuous exchange of information requires us to be critically aware of certain issues of vital importance: the distinction between truth and fake news, the undue exposure of private life, the manipulation of the most vulnerable, the logic of blackmail, and incitement to hatred and violence.

Strict vigilance is required to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail or discredit politicians, journalists or other civil society actors. All this also applies to the ecclesial sphere. In fact, in several countries, the Church is the victim of intelligence services that act for nefarious purposes, oppressing its freedom. These risks must always be assessed and require a high moral stature in those who are preparing to do a job like yours and in those who have been doing it for some time.

I am well aware of the delicate role and responsibility to which you are called. In this regard, I would also like to remember those of your colleagues who have lost their lives in delicate missions carried out in difficult contexts. Their dedication may not make the headlines, but it lives on in the people they helped and in the crises they helped to resolve.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the efforts of the Italian intelligence services in ensuring the security of the Holy See and Vatican City State. And here I would like to express my gratitude for your collaboration with the Gendarmerie, with the Vatican, the Holy See, in so many services, where this ability and opportunity to serve others truly becomes a reality thanks to our good collaboration with you.

I encourage you to continue your work, always keeping in mind the common good, learning to assess the various situations that arise before you with judgement and balance, and remaining firmly anchored to those legal and ethical principles that place the dignity of the human person above all else.

Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you on your choice to live the Jubilee together as a working community. God’s grace will not fail to bear good fruit on a personal level and, consequently, also in your work. This is my wish, which I accompany with my apostolic blessing for you and your families. I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

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[1] Cf. Venice Commission, Report on the Democratic oversight of the Security Services (1-2 June 2007), § 2.

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 12 December 2025