Pope teases nuncio, urges youth to stay up late
Pope Leo XIV ended his first night in Uruguay by greeting young people gathered outside the residence of the papal representative. He joked with the crowd about the late hour and thanked them for their enthusiasm before offering a blessing. The Uruguay stop is part of the Pope’s South American tour, which also includes Argentina and Peru. The Pope has frequently engaged with young people in prayer and informal moments since his election.
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Pope Leo XIV ended his first night in Uruguay by joking with young people gathered outside the residence of the papal representative, encouraging them to sing while playfully acknowledging the late hour. The encounter came after a long flight and a full first day of public appearances. 1
Standing outside the residence of Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone, the papal nuncio to Uruguay, Leo called out, “Where are the young people? Where are the Pope’s young people?” The crowd responded with cheers and shouts. 1
The Pope then teased Gallone, saying the nuncio wanted to sleep but that the young people could sing as late as they liked. After the crowd’s enthusiastic reaction, Leo added that they should not stay too late because the neighbors would also want to sleep. 1
He thanked the gathering for its enthusiasm, gave a blessing, and wished everyone good night. 1
The event followed Leo’s arrival in Uruguay on November 6, at the start of a South American tour that includes Argentina and Peru. The article reports that he had completed a 13-hour flight and delivered two speeches that day; because Rome is four hours ahead of Uruguay, it was already well past his usual bedtime. 1
The article also describes the exchange as part of Leo’s engagement with young people since his election, including both prayerful and lighthearted encounters in Rome and during his travels. 1
The Church’s mission includes accompanying young people in faith
Yes. The Church’s mission is not only to teach young people about the faith, but to walk with them as they encounter Christ, understand their lives in the light of the Gospel, and discern how God is calling them to serve. The USCCB describes this pattern as “listen, teach, and send,” modeled on Jesus accompanying the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
“The Church, following Christ’s example, is called to do the same: to listen to young people, to teach them the Gospel, and to send them forth into the world, alive in the Spirit.”
Accompaniment begins with listening and presence: taking young people’s questions, circumstances, and experiences seriously, without treating them as problems to be quickly fixed. It can happen in families, parishes, schools, and other relationships of trust, especially as young people navigate transitions and discern their vocations.
But accompaniment has a purpose beyond support alone. It helps young people grow in knowledge of Christ and the Gospel, share in the Church’s life, and become active witnesses and collaborators in the Church’s mission. They are not merely recipients of pastoral care; they can bring the Gospel to their peers and serve others through their gifts.