Pope Leo Urges Young People to Protect Hope and Build Peace

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has encouraged young people in Portugal not to allow fear, disappointment or social division to extinguish their hope.

The Pope delivered a video message to participants in the second “Rejoice — National Youth Day” gathering in Lamego, northern Portugal, held from 24 to 26 July.

He urged young people to allow their restlessness and questions to draw them closer to Christ through prayer, silence and reflection on their vocation.

The message invited participants to consider how they are called to serve within the Church and wider society, including through marriage, family life, priesthood, religious life and other forms of Christian witness.

Pope Leo presented holiness as deeply connected with human maturity rather than withdrawal from ordinary life. He encouraged young people to read the Gospel, seek truth sincerely and resist values that are temporary or superficial.

He also called on them to continue dreaming of a society marked by peace and fraternity and to approach the future with hope.

The gathering was intended to keep alive the spiritual momentum of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon. The Pope also referred to the next World Youth Day, scheduled to take place in Seoul in August 2027.

The message comes at a time when many young people face anxiety about employment, housing, conflict, climate change and social polarisation.

Faith leaders can respond to these concerns with spiritual encouragement, but practical support is also necessary. Churches and community organisations can contribute through mentoring, education, employment preparation, mental-health referral and opportunities for meaningful service.

The Pope’s emphasis on peace and fraternity carries a public dimension. Young people are not only being encouraged to remain personally optimistic, but to challenge division and participate in building more compassionate communities.

The central message was that hope should be active rather than passive — expressed through prayer, vocation, service and responsibility towards others.