Pope Leo XIV Holds First Digital Meeting with U.S. Youth During NCYC Conference: A Call to Unity and Hope
On Friday, November 21, a historic event took place in the life of the global Catholic Church and, in particular, the Catholic Church in the United States: the first digital meeting of young Catholics in America with Pope Leo XIV.
More than 15,000 young people gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the National Catholic Youth Conference to participate in this online encounter. They were joined by youth from the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, who were present virtually — praying, listening, and rejoicing on this special occasion.
Young people from across the United States had the opportunity to ask the Holy Father questions that mattered deeply to them — questions they found challenging, confusing, or painful. Their inquiries touched on faith, living the Holy Sacraments, mental health, Artificial Intelligence, and the future of the Catholic Church.
In his responses, the Pope emphasized, “God never gets tired of forgiving — we get tired of asking!” He encouraged them to invite God into all their personal struggles through prayer, the Holy Sacraments, and honest conversation with Him in the silence of their hearts. He also urged them to pray for the gift of true friendship.
The Holy Father noted that Artificial Intelligence has already become a familiar part of daily life, yet technology will never replace the human person—who is a true gift to the world. Reflecting on the future of the Church, he reminded the youth that we prepare for it today by doing what Jesus calls us to do, for young people are not only the future but also the present of the Church. He urged them not to fear what lies ahead, recalling Jesus’ words to Peter that the gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s Church.
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited young people to be missionaries and peacemakers — those who build bridges instead of walls — to be friends of Jesus who discover their vocation in Him.
We thank Pope Leo XIV for his closeness and sincerity, for his words and his blessing. We are also grateful to all the organizers, led by Archbishop Nelson Perez, and to everyone who contributed to making this beautiful gathering possible!
