On November 21, 2025, as part of the plenary session of the U.S. National Catholic Youth Conference, Pope Leo XIV addressed more than 15,000 young people aged 14 to 18 via live videoconference. The participants, coming from youth movements across all U.S. states, were gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
For 45 minutes, the Holy Father answered questions from six young people on topics ranging from the sacraments and mental health to artificial intelligence and the future of the Church. Here are three of those questions, followed by Leo XIV's response:
Chris: Holy Father, good morning. My name is Chris Pantelakis, and I am from the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, Nevada. I often find myself sitting on my phone endlessly scrolling. I've also noticed that everybody around me is the same or has a very similar problem. Many adults have told me that technology is great with moderation. So my question for you is: How do you suggest we balance all these great tools — social media, smartphones, tablets and any other devices — while also making faith connections outside of technology?
Pope Leo: Thanks, Chris, for your question. It's a really important one. Technology can really help us in many ways, including helping us live our Christian faith. It lets us stay connected with people who are far away, as today, when we can see and hear each other even though we're thousands of miles apart. It also gives us amazing tools for prayer, for reading the Bible, for learning more about what we believe.
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, all those things — are essential to being human and to have those things in a real way, not through a screen like we're speaking this morning.
As Catholics, we often pray together, remembering Jesus' promise that when two or more gather in His name, He is with them. The early Church experienced powerful moments of Jesus' presence when they prayed together. Watching Mass online can be helpful, especially when someone is sick or elderly or 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. So, 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.
There's a saint who was recently canonized who I'm sure all of you have heard of, St. Carlo [Acutis]. He's a great example. Carlo was skilled with computers, and he used that talent. He used it to help people grow in their faith. He also spent time in prayer in Eucharistic adoration. He taught others, and, very importantly, he served the poor.
He even set time limits for himself, allowing only a certain amount of time each week for leisure on his electronic devices. Because of this discipline, he found a healthy balance and kept his priorities clear. My friends, I encourage you to follow the example of Carlo Acutis. Be intentional with your screen time. Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around.
Micah: Good morning, Holy Father. My name is Micah Alcisto, and I'm from the Diocese of Honolulu in Hawaii. Often times, many of us, including myself, can rely on using AI or ChatGPT to assist in finding solutions in things, such as our schoolwork, like writing a good essay or walking us through a math problem or answering a history question — and really using AI as a tool or a resource to find solutions and an answer to a problem that we may have in our mind. So, Holy Father, what do you think we should be cautious of when embracing this new technology?
Pope Leo: Well, that's really an important question; I'm really glad you asked it. As you all know, probably better than I do, AI is becoming one of the defining features of our time. Recently, there was a conference here in Rome focused on protecting children and teenagers in today's digital world.
I encouraged the participants to work together to create policies that will keep you safe, keep all of us safe from the risks that come with AI. But I also reminded them, and I take this opportunity to remind all of you, that safety 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.
These years of your life are meant to help you grow into mature adults. Spiritually, this means deepening your friendship with God and becoming more like Him. Intellectually, it means learning to think clearly, to think critically, to examine reality, and to search for truth, beauty and goodness.
It also means strengthening your will with God's grace so you can freely choose what helps you grow, avoid what harms you. Every tool we're given, including AI, should support that journey, not weaken it. Using AI responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow, never in ways that distract you from your dignity or your call to holiness. In your education, make the most of this time.
AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence. And don't ask it to do your homework for you. It cannot offer real wisdom. It misses a very important human element: AI will not judge between what is truly right and wrong. And it won't stand in wonder, 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. Use it 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. Remember, AI can never replace that unique gift that you are to the world.
The presenter, Katie Prejean McGrady, ended with this question: We just want to ask what's bringing you hope right now, and what's your hope for the future of this Church, and how can we help you?
Pope Leo: Well, thank you very much. It's a really good question. I think it's important to repeat that young people are part of the Church's present and also the hope for the future of the Church.
We look to you, I look to you, not to someone else, to help shape the Church in the years ahead. And that is something to be excited about. Maybe you should all give yourselves a round of applause because I want to say thanks to all of you. Now is the time to dream big, to be open to what God can do through your lives. Being young often comes with the desire to do something meaningful, something that makes a real difference.
Many of you are ready to be generous, to help those you love, to work for something greater than yourselves. That is why 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. One of my own personal heroes, one of my favorite saints is St. Augustine of Hippo. He learned this as a young man.
He searched everywhere for happiness. But nothing satisfied him until he opened his heart to God. That is why he wrote, "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You." Augustine discovered that his desire for greatness was really a desire for a relationship with Jesus Christ.
His friendship with Jesus is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. It's not only for saints or not only for priests or religious sisters and brothers. It's for everyone. This was the experience of the first disciples of Jesus. They were ordinary people who spent time with the Lord. They listened to Him. They experienced His love.
They discovered that being part of the Church meant following Jesus, living what He taught and continuing His mission. So when we think about the Church's future, the first thing we must do is deepen our own friendship with Jesus. This means personal conversion, letting God transform our hearts so we can follow Christ more closely. St. Augustine said it well.
If you want to change the world, begin by letting God change 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. Do not 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, with creativity. Authentic witnesses of the Gospel can help heal and unite humanity. Jesus also calls His disciples to be peacemakers, people who build bridges instead of walls, people who value dialogue and unity instead of division. Please be careful not to use political categories to speak about faith, to speak about the Church. The Church doesn't belong to any political party. Rather, she helps form your conscience.
The Church helps form your conscience so you can think and act with wisdom and love. As you grow closer to Jesus, do not fear what He might ask of you. If He challenges you to make changes in your life, it's always because He wants to give you greater joy, greater freedom. God is never outdone in generosity.
So St. Augustine prayed, "Lord, give me the grace to do what You ask and then ask whatever You want." Augustine knew his own weakness, but he also knew that God strengthens those who open their hearts to him. As your Catholic identity strengthens, your appreciation for the many different vocations in the Church will deepen.
Many of you are called to marriage, to family life. The world needs holy families who pass on the faith and show God's love in daily life. If you think you may be called to marriage, pray for a spouse who will help you grow in holiness, help you grow in your faith. Some of you may be called to the priesthood, to serve God's people through the word, the sacraments.
If you feel that tug in your heart, don't ignore it. Bring it to Jesus. Speak with a priest you trust. Others may be called to consecrated religious life, to be witnesses of a joyful life completely given to God. If you sense this call, that gentle tug, do not be afraid. Ask the Lord to guide you, to show you his plan.
Dear friends, as you discern your vocation, trust Jesus. He knows how to lead you to true happiness. If you open your heart, you will hear him calling you to holiness. As Pope Benedict XIV once said, Jesus takes nothing away and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive far more than we could ever imagine.
Your vocation is always connected to the greater mission of the Church, which exists to share the Gospel with the whole world. Jesus sent his disciples to prepare the way for him to preach, to heal, and to bring his mercy to others. After his resurrection, he sent the apostles to bring his grace to the entire world.
That mission is yours as well. What greater gift can you offer the world than the gift of eternal life in Christ? What greater cause could you dedicate your life to than the Gospel? The world needs missionaries. It needs you to share the light and the joy that you have found in Jesus. So to those attending the conference in Indianapolis, know that I am praying for you.
I hope everything you have experienced during the conference inspires you to love Jesus and to love the Church more deeply and that you bring that love home to your families, your friends, schools and parishes. To those of you who are with us online, this invitation is for you as well.
You too are called to be missionary disciples wherever you are. The Lord invites all of you to share the Good News — the Good News that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and is alive today, offering us his love and friendship. So, my dear friends, thank you for your questions. Thank you for listening today.
I see great hope and promise in you, and I trust that the Lord is at work in your lives. May he continue to bless you, continue to guide you and strengthen you as you seek to serve him in the Church and in every person he places in your path.