Pope Leo XIV calls on young people to be brave witnesses of Christ

In his message on the occasion of the XL World Youth Day (WYD), which will be celebrated at the diocesan level on the feast of Christ the King, Leo XIV urged young people to be “brave witnesses” of friendship with Christ and thus seek fraternity.

The Pontiff asked that this meeting, which will be held within the framework of the Jubilee of Hope, at the end of the liturgical year, serve as preparation “to become brave witnesses of Christ.”

On the road to WYD to be held in South Korea in 2027, Pope Leo XIV invited us to reflect on two aspects of Christian witness: friendship with Jesus and the commitment of each one in society.

“Christian testimony is born from friendship with the Lord, crucified and resurrected for the salvation of all. This should not be confused with ideological propaganda, but is a true principle of interior transformation and social awareness,” said the Pontiff.

In this sense, he added that when the Lord sends to bear witness it is a sign that “he considers us his friends” and fully knows “the heart of each of you, young people,” which vibrates with indignation at injustice and has “a desire for truth and beauty, for joy and peace.”

“He does not want us as servants, nor as ‘activists’ of a party; he calls us to be with Him as friends, so that our lives may be renewed. And the testimony arises spontaneously from the joyful newness of this friendship,” he explained below.

There are no answers “in the infinite scrolling of the mobile screen”

Giving the example of Saint John the Evangelist, who defines himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” Leo XIV stressed “that Christian testimony is the fruit of the relationship of faith and love with Jesus, in whom we find the salvation of our lives.”

Likewise, in reference to Saint John the Baptist, who always pointed to Christ in his preaching, the Pontiff pointed out that the true witness “does not aim to occupy the center of the stage,” but rather “is humble and internally free, above all from himself, that is, from the pretension of being the center of attention.”

Thus, the Pope invited us to “continue searching for the friends of Jesus in the Bible,” to understand that “they found in the living relationship with Christ the true meaning of life.” In this sense, he noted: “Our deepest questions are not heard nor do they find answers in the infinite scrolling of the mobile screen, which captures attention, leaving the mind fatigued and the heart empty.”

Disciples, missionaries, martyrs

Regarding the commitment of the Christian witness to the world, Leo

Aware that “it is not always easy to bear witness,” because the disciple “experiences first-hand rejection and, at times, even violent opposition,” the Pontiff encouraged people to consider these difficulties as a favorable opportunity “to put into practice the highest commandment” which consists of loving one’s enemies.

“This is what the martyrs have done since the beginning of the Church,” added Leo XIV, who recalled that the shedding of blood for Christ is not “a story that belongs only to the past.”

Fraternity versus polarization

Finally, the message of Pope Leo

This essence of fraternity “unites us with each other, impelling us to commit ourselves, from volunteering to political charity, to build new living conditions for all.”

“Do not follow those who use the words of faith to divide; organize yourselves, instead, to eliminate inequalities and reconcile polarized and oppressed communities,” the Pontiff added.

In his farewell, Leo

“Thus, in every situation of life, we will experience that we are never alone, but that we are always children loved, forgiven and encouraged by God. To all this, bear witness with joy!”, he concluded.