Pope Leo XIV Encourages Young People to Live Faith Together, Not in Isolation
Pope Leo XIV met with members of the International Youth Advisory Body in Rome, sharing an open and heartfelt message about the importance of connection, faith, and mission in a digital world that often isolates. Speaking informally and from the heart, the Pope urged young people not to live their faith alone, especially in an age shaped by social media and online influence.
He reminded them that while digital platforms can introduce many to faith, they can also confine believers within personal experiences that lack the shared spirit of the Church. “Faith discovered online can be inspiring,” he said, “but if it is not lived in community, it risks remaining abstract.” The Pope warned that algorithms often reflect back only what individuals want to see, creating the illusion of connection while deepening loneliness. In response, he encouraged youth to seek genuine encounters through the Church, where faith becomes embodied in real relationships and acts of service.
Pope Leo highlighted synodality, walking together in faith, as a powerful way to overcome self-centeredness and isolation. He told the group that the Church relies on young people to help it hear the voices of those who are often silenced: the poor, the refugees, and the lonely. He emphasized that a synodal Church must be attentive to the Holy Spirit speaking through young hearts, whose creativity and courage can renew the life of faith for the whole community.
He also urged them to look beyond appearances and to face life’s challenges with openness and compassion. “Have hearts ready to listen,” he said, “and do not be afraid of new paths. The Lord calls us to forge them with courage and imagination.” He explained that true mission begins with freedom, freedom from fear, from selfishness, and from the noise that distracts from God’s voice.
The Pope reminded the youth that their participation in the Church’s mission must be rooted in spirituality, not ideology. Authentic engagement, he said, comes from being close to the heart of Christ and sharing His concern for the suffering of others. By walking with Jesus through prayer, the sacraments, and compassion, they can reflect His love in action.
Closing his address, Pope Leo called the young people “friends of Jesus” and urged them to transform their empathy into service. He told them that maturity in faith means moving beyond personal needs to carry the burdens of others. The Pope left them with a challenge: to make their generation’s faith a living bridge between the digital world and the human heart, united by love, mission, and hope.
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