Here are some quotes from Pope Leo XIV who spoke to thousands of young people gathered for the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference yesterday.
He spoke to them on their deepest questions about their faith, struggles, motivations, friendships, and even the rise of artificial intelligence.
May the Holy Father’s challenge inspire the youth to embrace their role as active, living members of the Church today and tomorrow.
Return to Jesus
- “It can be discouraging when we fall. But do not focus only on your sins. Look to Jesus. Trust His mercy and go to Him with confidence. He will always welcome you home.”
The Gift of True Friends
- “It’s important to pray for the gift of true friends. A real friend is not only someone who’s fun to be with, though that’s good too. But it’s someone who helps you grow closer to Jesus, encourages you to become a better person. Good friends also push us to seek help when life gets difficult or confusing. Good friends will tell us the truth, even when that’s not easy to do.”
- “The Lord invites us to grow through our challenges. Many young people say, ‘No one understands me.'”‘ But that thought can sometimes isolate you. When it comes, try saying, ‘Oh Lord, you understand me better than I understand myself.’ And trust that the Lord will guide you.”
Help in Times of Struggles
- “Mary understands what we go through and she prays for us. There’s a powerful way to ask for help and that’s praying the Rosary. Through her intercession and with all the saints praying for us, we can confidently place everything in God’s hands, knowing that He always hears us. He’s always with us.”
- “Jesus does not just understand our struggles from a distance. He actually wants us to hand them to him because He loves us. And that kind of trust starts when we have a real relationship.”
- “We cannot give our problems to someone who we barely know. Think of your closest friends for example. If they were hurting, you would talk to them. You would listen to them. You would stay close. Our relationship with Jesus is similar.”
The Youth
- “I’ve seen that you [youth] really carry with you authentic joys and hopes but also struggles and heavy burdens. I want you to know that I pray for you, asking the Lord to help you grow in love for him and in virtue.”
- “I believe God draws you closer to Himself through the people in your life, hopefully through your parents, teachers, priests, brothers and sisters, good friends, youth ministers. When you find someone you truly trust, don’t be afraid to open your heart.”
- “Whether it’s a trusted adult or close friend, it’s important to speak honestly about what you feel, what you think, what you experience. Honesty will help you put your feelings into words, and honesty will allow Jesus to work through the people that He has placed in your life.”
- “You [youth] are not only the future of the Church. You are the present. Your voices, your ideas, your faith matter right now. And the Church needs you. The Church needs what you have been given to share with all of us.”
- “If you [youth] want to help the Church prepare for the future, start by being involved today. Stay connected to your parish. Attend Sunday Mass. Join youth activities. Say ‘yes’ to opportunities where your faith can grow.”
On the Use of Technology
- “Be intentional with your screen time. Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around.”
- “Technology can help us live our Christian faith. It lets us stay connected with people who are far away. And it allows us to share the Gospel with people we may never meet in person. But even with all that, technology can never replace real in-person relationships — simple things, a hug, a handshake, a smile.”
- “There are all kinds of temptations and all kinds of distractions, but there is only one Jesus Christ.”
- “While technology certainly can connect us, it’s not the same as being physically present. We need to use it wisely, without letting it overshadow our relationships.”
- “Watching mass online can be helpful, especially when someone is sick or elderly who cannot attend in person. But actually being there, taking part in the Eucharist, is so important for our prayer, for our sense of community. It’s essential for our relationship with God and with each other. There’s nothing that can replace true human presence, being with one another.”
On Artificial Intelligence
- “Remember, artificial intelligence can never replace that unique gift that you are to the world.”
- “Don’t ask AI to do your homework for you. It cannot offer real wisdom. AI will not judge between what is truly right and wrong. And it won’ stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation. So, be prudent. Be wise. Be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth.”
- “Using artificial intelligence responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow, never in ways that distract you from your dignity or your call to holiness.
- “Use AI in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
- “Safety on artificial intelligence is not only about rules. It’s about education and it’s about personal responsibility. Filters and guidelines can help you but they cannot make choices for you. Only you can do that.”
The Future
- “When we face challenges or worries about the future, it might be good to remember that promise that Jesus once made to Peter when He said, ‘The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.’ Jesus will always protect, guide, and love His Church.”
- “On the day I was elected Pope, I said, ‘God loves us and evil will not prevail. We are all in God’s hands.’ Jesus wants everyone to come close to Him.
- The Church prepares for the future by staying faithful to what Jesus asks of us today. He told us not to be overwhelmed by worries, but to seek first the Kingdom of God, trusting that everything else will fall into place. He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us and help us understand what we need to do.”
Knowing and Being Christ in the midst of others
- “When we speak and listen to one another in a prayerful way, we can be confident that Jesus is walking with us, even when the path ahead is not clear.”
- “The more you come to know Jesus, the more you will want to serve Him and His Church.”
- “Remember, making a difference usually happens through simple daily faithfulness.”
- “What can I offer for the future? How can I help others come to know Christ? How can I build peace and friendship around me? These questions are for today, and I believe your ‘yes’ will strengthen the Church now and in the years to come.”
- “It is not true that life is only about doing what feels good to yourself that makes you feel comfortable as some people claim. Sure, comfort can be nice. But as Pope Benedict XVI reminded us, we weren’t made for comfort. We were made for greatness. We were made for God Himself.”
- “Deep down, we long for truth, for beauty and goodness, because we were created for them. And this treasure we seek has a name, Jesus, who wants to be found by you, wants to be known by you.”
- “Part of being Jesus’ disciples is being authentic. Young people have a strong sense for authenticity. You can tell when someone is genuine or fake. Don’t lose that instinct.”
- “Don’t settle for a shallow version of faith. Seek the real friendship that Jesus offers you. Listen to Him in prayer and let Him shape your life. When you do this, you carry His presence into the world with joy, hope, and creativity. Authentic witnesses of the Gospel can help heal and unite humanity.”