Pope Leo XIV to Youth: Technology Helps Us Practice Our Christian Faith

Youth Connect with Pope Leo at NCYC

On Friday, more than 15,000 young individuals engaged with Pope Leo XIV through a video link while participating in the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) held in Indianapolis, United States.

Katie Prejan McGrady moderated a question-and-answer session for an event featuring six young adults from the faith who had the opportunity to ask questions of the Holy Father, the topics including sacraments, mental health, artificial intelligence, and the future of the Church. The Holy Father praised the youth from the U.S. for meeting up in person and urged everyone to become active in their parish. Those in attendance were given the opportunity to celebrate a Mass, pray before the Blessed Sacrament and receive Reconciliation from the Pope, all of which were affirmed by the Pope as “real opportunities to meet Jesus”.

God's Mercy and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacramental Life on the Portrait of Our Existence Pope Leo XIV received inquiries about whether a person who has sinned against God and/or has not necessarily lived up to his/her expectations can be forgiven by God. Today, we all toil with questions with regard of receiving God’s grace and to understand God’s grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

According to Pope Francis, "God's mercy does not have a final limit and will continually provide you with mercy. However, sadly, we often agot ourselves from asking God for His mercy."

Pope Francis reflected on how the heart of God seeks the lost in a way that our human hearts often do not. The Father never tires of searching for the lost sheep who are away from him. Not only does Pope Francis invite youth to meet Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation by confessing their sins in order to receive Jesus' forgiveness from the priest (in absolution), but he calls them to be accepted as well back to God.

Mental Health and Finding Peace in Prayer

Managing your sadness and the sadness due to mental health issues (depression) takes a lot of work. He gave me (as well as an audience) some response to questions concerning mental health issues, the feeling of being sad and overwhelmed, etc. "If we work at establishing our relationship with Jesus, our relationship with Him will grow." According to his Holiness when we experience difficult times in life we can call out to him in prayer. The Pope said, "It is in that stillness we can communicate to God how we are feeling." "If you spend time with Jesus through the Eucharistic Adoration He sees you and loves you through the Blessed Sacrament."

Because of this he encourages young people to find adults who will present God accurately as they deliver their message to young people - reliable adults like parents, teachers, priests and other youth workers.

He further encouraged them to pray for the blessing of genuine friends who inspire us to "seek Jesus during times of confusion or hardship.

Pope Leo said, "A lot of young people feel that they have nobody who understands them". It's easy to feel really cut off from people when you think this way. If you're feeling that way speak to God saying, "You understand who I am better than I know who I am" and believe He will lead you where you need to go.

Technology, Faith, and Artificial Intelligence

Pope Leo XIV stated that modern technology aids in creating relationships between people who are far apart when asked about how technology affects religion.

"There are many ways technology can make you healthier; one example is using various tools that can help you pray and study the Bible better, ultimately understand your faith better," he said.

At the same time the Pope insists that true, personal relationships and the capacity of participating “in a concrete way, in a bodily way” to the fullness of the Eucharist, cannot be replaced by technology for human beings. He asks adolescents “to try to reduce their time in front of the screen, to use technology in a proportionate” way which can serve to enhance their lives rather than to ruin them.

The Pope has said that artificial intelligence defines our age. In order to use Artificial Intelligence safely, we need to manage the growth of Artificial Intelligence (the technologies) as well as cultivate people by enabling them to make their own decisions through education and to take responsibility for those decisions.

He stated that every tool ought to facilitate our journey of faith and intellectual growth rather than obstruct it.

He said “Be careful of your AIs. They might make you different as a human”. He continued “Use your AIs in a way that if they disappeared today, you would still be thinking, creating and acting as a human”. The most important part is remembering your contribution as a human is your contribution to this planet and nothing else will recreate your very specific contribution.

The Future of the Church and the Role of Youth

In proposing a vision of the future of the Church, Pope Leo offered Jesus' words to Peter: “The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.” He added that the direction of the future rests in “what Jesus desires for us at this moment. For the last 2,000 years the Holy Spirit has challenged and buoyed the Church.”

Young People are obviously of importance to the present time, and he hopes they can develop their faith through activities associated with the church, and become participants in activities including attendance at Sunday Services/Mass, and in groups associated with their organisations.

He added, “If you think God is calling you to bring a purpose to fruition, it is best you speak to your parish priest or some trustworthy authority in your community who may direct you to discern God’s call.” Through discipleship and proclaiming the Good News, Pope Leo XIV appealed to the young people of today’s Church to support his vision for the future generation of members of the Church and urge them to take an active part in helping him with the Creation of the Church of the Future.

Recognizing their youthful desire to partner with God in his redemptive works, the Pope urged young Catholics to give generously of their time and talents to help build the Church. “Because you are looking for the truth, for beauty, for goodness in your life—and we all are. [...] The treasure you are seeking has a name, and his name is Jesus, and he wishes to be found”.

Called to Be Companions of Christ

The youth are summoned to be companions of Christ and advocates for peace, “who construct bridges rather than barriers, and who prioritize dialogue and unity over division.”

"Don't mix it up politically and religiously; they're not the same," He said respectfully. "The only reason you go to church is to learn who you are so that when the time comes for the exercise of conscience you exercise it from a foundation of love and known wisdom." In conclusion, His Holiness urged the young American Catholics to fulfill their vocation while being what they think is the will of God in the married vocation or as a priest or in some religious order.

He asked, "What better way to use your life than to share the Gospel?" Missionaries are needed in the world. The world is asking you to give out the joy and light you found in Jesus.