Pope Leo XIV met online with over 15,000 young Catholics attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. The Pope encouraged young Catholics to deepen their faith and use technology responsibly. Young attendees asked the Pope questions on topics including Sacraments, mental health, artificial intelligence, and the future of the Church. Pope Leo praised the American youth for their active participation in their parish communities.
24 days ago
Pope Leo XIV participated in a historic digital encounter with over 15,000 young Catholics at the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis on November 21, 2025.1 2
The livestreamed session from the Vatican featured questions from five high school students on topics like mercy, mental health, technology, and the Church's future, moderated by Katie Prejean McGrady.3 4
The Pope praised the youth for gathering in person to pray, attend Mass, and receive Reconciliation, calling these sacraments "real opportunities to meet Jesus."2 5
Pope Leo emphasized that sin does not have the final word, urging youth to seek God's endless forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation despite feelings of imperfection.1 2
He encouraged entrusting worries to Jesus via daily prayer and silence, such as Eucharistic adoration, to foster a deep relationship where Christ understands personal struggles.1 3
True friendships rooted in faith were highlighted as essential, with friends who encourage growth toward Jesus and provide honest support during difficulties.1 4
Distractions in prayer should be acknowledged briefly before returning to Christ, as temptations abound but "there's only one Jesus Christ."1 5
Technology aids Christian life by connecting people, offering prayer tools, Bible access, and Gospel sharing, but it cannot replace in-person relationships like hugs or shared Eucharist.1 2
Pope Leo advised intentional screen time, citing St. Carlo Acutis as a model who used tech for faith while prioritizing prayer and service.3 4
On AI, he warned against over-reliance, stressing education and personal responsibility over mere rules, and humorously noted it should not do homework.4 5
AI processes data quickly but lacks human wisdom, moral judgment, or wonder at creation; youth must ensure it supports growth without limiting authentic human development.2 3
Young people are both the Church's present and future, with their voices, ideas, and faith needed now through parish involvement, Mass attendance, and youth activities.1 4
Jesus promises to protect the Church against evil, guided by the Holy Spirit; preparation involves daily fidelity to Christ rather than worry.1 2
Vocations—marriage, priesthood, or religious life—connect to the Church's mission; discern by praying for holy spouses or trusted priests if feeling a call.1 4
Youth are made for greatness, not comfort, longing for truth, beauty, and goodness in Jesus; they should dream big, serve generously, and be peacemakers building bridges.1 3
The Church transcends politics, forming consciences for wise action without partisan labels.1 2
Mia Smothers from Maryland found the Pope's admission of personal struggles surprising and reassuring, inspiring her to promote Church involvement among siblings.6
Micah Alcisto from Hawaii felt "surreal" joining history, touched by the Pope's warmth, jokes, and prayers, fueling passion to spread the Gospel.6
Ezequiel Ponce from California stayed calm, valuing advice on trusting confidants for faith growth and feeling a mutual prayer connection.6
Christopher Pantelakis from Nevada was breathless, moved by the Pope's personal engagement and emphasis on irreplaceable human connections over digital ones.6
Elise Wing from Iowa appreciated the focus on sacraments for future preparation, noting the Pope's hope-filled, Jesus-centered responses amid ongoing challenges like technology and division.6
Explore Catholic teaching on technology’s role in youth faith formation
Catholic teaching views technology, particularly digital media and the internet, as a double-edged sword in the faith formation of young people. On one hand, it offers unprecedented opportunities for accessing spiritual resources, fostering community, and evangelizing in innovative ways, aligning with the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel in contemporary culture. On the other, it poses risks such as isolation, exposure to moral hazards, and superficial relationships that can undermine deep spiritual growth. Drawing from papal messages, synodal documents, and pastoral reflections, the Church calls for discerning engagement: technology should serve human dignity and the common good, helping youth build authentic encounters with Christ and others rather than replacing them.
The Church has long recognized the potential of new technologies to enrich faith formation by making the riches of tradition accessible and enabling young people to actively participate in the Church's mission. In the early days of computing, Pope John Paul II highlighted how digital tools could store and share the "knowledge which is our human heritage," including Sacred Scripture, Church teachings, and spiritual masters, providing "wide and instant access" to these treasures. He emphasized that young people, who adapt readily to this "computer culture," are uniquely positioned to use it for "wider and more intense dialogue" across races and classes, promoting justice, human rights, and freedoms essential to a fully human life. This vision positions technology not as an end in itself but as a means to encounter God's plan, echoing the biblical image of bringing "new things and old" from the Father's treasure (Mt 13:52).
Building on this, Pope Benedict XVI described the digital world as a "new environment" and even a "digital continent" ripe for evangelization. He urged young Catholics to bring their faith values into this space, announcing the Gospel with enthusiasm to peers who share their fears, hopes, and disappointments. In Christus Vivit, Pope Francis reinforced this by encouraging youth to "fill [social networks] with God, fraternity and commitment," using platforms they already know well—such as text messages, videos, and songs—for outreach. He noted that young people can organize events and evangelize creatively, sowing the "seed of the message" in the hearts of contemporaries during retreats, casual conversations, or online interactions.
A shining example is Blessed Carlo Acutis, canonized as a model for digital-age youth. As highlighted in papal addresses and beatification documents, Carlo used his passion for computers to create a website on Eucharistic miracles, transforming the internet into a tool for evangelization without becoming its slave. Pope Leo XIV praised him as one who "skillfully used new means of social communication to spread the Gospel and share the good and the beautiful," avoiding the pitfalls of consumerism and addiction. This approach shows how technology can orient youth toward God and others, fostering a "space of fraternity and creativity" rather than isolation.
Recent synodal reflections affirm that digital culture reshapes youth experiences of time, space, and relationships, offering "new opportunities to better live the synodal dimension of the Church" through connected communities that promote encounter and dialogue. The Dicastery for Communication's Towards Full Presence describes social media as an environment for sharing experiences and cultivating relationships, urging the Church to meet youth where they are, as the digital world is "a significant part of young people’s identity and way of life." During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis's live-streamed prayer in an empty St. Peter's Square exemplified this: technology united millions in isolation, extending the Church's embrace and creating moments of profound communion.
While optimistic about technology's potential, Catholic teaching warns of its dangers in youth faith formation, particularly how it can fragment relationships and erode moral discernment. Pope Francis in Laudato Si' cautioned that omnipresent media and digital worlds hinder "learning how to live wisely, to think deeply and to love generously," replacing real relationships with contrived emotions tied to devices rather than people or nature. This leads to "mental pollution" from information overload, a "deep and melancholic dissatisfaction with interpersonal relations," and harmful isolation despite constant connectivity.
Pope Leo XIV echoed this in dialogues with youth, noting how social media promises closeness but often yields "fleeting and often illusory" bonds, controlled by algorithms that dictate thoughts and friendships, turning people into "commodities." He linked this to a culture of consumerism that fragments relationships, urging youth to seek "genuine relationships and stable connections" rooted in truth. The Synod on Synodality highlighted how digital platforms can exploit users for ideological polarization, fostering aggression and manipulation, while unpreparedness leaves youth vulnerable to loneliness and marginalization.
A particular concern is exposure to immoral content, as addressed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in their pastoral response to pornography. They warn that isolation and poor tech habits contribute to addictive viewing, urging ongoing faith formation in family and sexuality to counter this. Pope Pius XI similarly expressed anxiety over "immoral and antireligious press" endangering youth's faith and innocence, calling for vigilance through family leagues and media censorship. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis stressed ensuring communication guides toward "generous encounter" and solidarity, rejecting a "digital world designed to exploit our weaknesses."
These challenges underscore the need for caution: technology can simulate human reasoning but cannot replicate moral discernment or genuine relationships, risking a loss of what makes us truly human. As Pope Leo XIV noted in addressing AI's role in medicine, advancements must prioritize "ontological dignity" and interpersonal care, lest they detract from human fragility and vulnerability.
To harness technology's benefits while mitigating risks, the Church advocates comprehensive media education as integral to faith formation. The Pontifical Council for Social Communications in The Church and Internet called for "continuing media education" to form "standards of good taste and truthful moral judgment," especially for youth learning to navigate cyberspace discerningly. This goes beyond techniques to integral development, benefiting others and promoting sound moral criteria. Recommendations extend to Church leaders, who must understand media for pastoral planning; pastoral personnel, trained to communicate in a media culture; and educators, providing courses on ethics, technology, and policy.
Parents play a key role, as per USCCB guidelines: discuss chastity age-appropriately, set tech rules like screen-free zones and limits, model healthy use, and encourage reporting harmful content. Build non-digital routines and community to combat loneliness. Pope Leo XIV advised students to "humanize the digital," using it wisely without letting algorithms dictate their story, drawing on emotional and spiritual intelligence alongside technical savvy. Be "prophets in the digital world," like Carlo Acutis, orienting tech toward peace and fraternity.
Broader Church documents, such as World Communications Day messages, emphasize dialogue and presence: enter digital spaces to appreciate youth's desires and doubts, walking at their pace like a pilgrim's companion. Pope Francis envisioned a Church that "brings warmth and stirs hearts" online, keeping "doors open in the digital environment" for all to enter and the Gospel to reach everyone. The Synod calls for resources to make digital spaces "prophetic" for mission, with Christian communities reflecting on bonds of belonging and peer formation in a synodal way.
In essence, technology's role in youth faith formation demands ethical frameworks centered on the human person, beyond mere utility. As Pope Leo XIV urged journalists and communicators, protect information as a public good, fostering responsibility and truth.
Catholic teaching on technology in youth faith formation balances enthusiasm for its evangelistic power with vigilant discernment of its pitfalls. By accessing sacred knowledge, building digital communities, and emulating models like Carlo Acutis, youth can use tech to deepen their encounter with Christ and others. Yet, risks of isolation, addiction, and superficiality require robust education from families, Church, and society to ensure technology serves integral human development. Ultimately, as Pope Benedict XVI prayed, may youth herald a world of enduring love, shared gifts, and respectful communion in this digital age. Guided by faith, technology becomes a pathway to holiness, not a distraction from it.