Papa Leo XIV welcomes young journalists from the Ewtn Summer Academy

This week, Pope Leo XIV welcomed Journalism students in Rome who have traveled from different corners of the world to participate in the fourth edition of the Ewtn Summer Academy.

The 40 students joined thousands of young people gathered for the jubilee of digital missionaries and the jubilee of young people. On Sunday, July 29, Pope León greeted the crowd saying: “Greetings to Kearny’s faithful, New Jersey; to the group of the Catholic Music Awards; and Ewtn’s summer academy.”

During the 10 days of the course, the participants will collaborate in the preparation of reports and will work as a team to produce, record and edit videos. The objective is that, after this time of training, prayer and sharing, students have the necessary tools to become digital missionaries, at a time when much of what people learn and consume online.

Although students come from 20 different countries and various trajectories in the field of journalism, they are joined by the same mission.

One of the participants declared the Ewtn News Nightly program in Rome: “I was very surprised to see that we are all here for the same reason: work for God and do what we can in this world to spread the truth … it is very moving to know that we are united, fighting for what is fair.”

“All we do is for the Church and, ultimately, by evangelization, to bring people closer to God. When you leave yourself and say ‘it is not about me, it’s about God’, you can do almost anything,” added another student.

Among the young journalists who participate in the course, from July 21 to 31, are also Charbel and Giovanni Lteif, Lebanese twin brothers who have been creating content on social networks about Christianity in the Middle East.

In just one year, the brothers have built a Christian platform that has expanded in multiple social networks, reaching audiences around the world. The impact of their digital work earned them a place in the academy.

From Rome, Charbel told Ewtn that the Z generation “is returning to Christ in large numbers, and that is something very beautiful to see. People strange tradition, strange the sense of belonging, of not being sliding on the cell phone all day.”

For his part, Giovanni added: “I think that when people see faith in the East, they get excited and motivated.

Working with the 40 students from different nations, Giovanni commented: “It is the first time in my life that I saw how global it is our Church. I saw that, regardless of where you are, if you have good Christian values, we are the same … This is how the world is changed: 40 people, or 12 disciples, change the world.”

During the closing mass of the jubilee of digital missionaries, Pope León told the participants: “It is not simply to generate content, but to promote a meeting of hearts. This requires going out to meet those who suffer, of those who need to know the Lord, so that they can heal their wounds, raise and find meaning to their lives.”

Translated and adapted by ACI Press. Originally published in CNA.