Friday, throughout the evening, the Stade de France alternated between noisy fervor and moments of contemplation. Amidst the songs, the testimonies and the exhibition of the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil, Leo XIV first spoke with two young people, Chloé and François. Then the Pope addressed the 80,000 young people present. “Young people of France, you carry in your hearts an immense desire for freedom,” he told them, before inviting them to follow a “path of holiness”. Leo XIV urged them to “choose the good”, recalling that “good gives life, it never takes it away”, then to be “luminous witnesses of this Gospel”.
Here is his exchange with the young people and his entire speech:
Leo XIV's dialogue with young people
Question from Chloe
Most Holy Father, we give thanks for your presence among us this evening and for this time of exchange that you offer us.
My name is Chloé, I am 25 years old and I am completing my studies in pharmacology. I am involved in a collective of young Catholics from working-class neighborhoods in Île-de-France: La Cité Céleste. In particular, we organize one-off events such as nights of worship and praise, bringing together many young people from the neighborhood who want to live and share their faith widely. I am also involved in my parish, particularly with young high school students. Through these different commitments, I am keen to put my energy and my skills at the service of others by creating a link between faith, youth and the realities experienced on a daily basis in our neighborhoods.
As Saint Paul says, “for us to live is Christ.” However, the society in which we live is built on other foundations and sometimes even seems to be foreign to the question of God. We want to proclaim Christ around us with strength and perseverance but also, of course, with respect and sensitivity towards those we meet. How can we combine the strength of our missionary impulse with the authenticity of a fraternal life with those who do not share our faith?
Response from the Holy Father
The phrase from Saint Paul that you quoted, Chloe, is not a simple affirmation. It is a true synthesis of his life. In a few words, brief but decisive, he pronounces a prayer of praise, an act of faith, and indicates a path of holiness until martyrdom. “For me, to live is Christ” (cf. Phil 1:21). By repeating this declaration of love, we try to share the Apostle's experience. This bears witness, in fact, that God is never a stranger to his life, but that, on the contrary, He comes to meet him: He calls him to himself, transforms him internally, sends him into the world.
We are all affected by this spiritual dynamic, even today. It is true, as you say, that the society in which we live seems indifferent to God. But the Lord is not indifferent to us! This is what matters… and what always gives us hope!
That many are strangers to the question of God is, indeed, a problem; but the fact that many are foreign to the question of man is just as foreign. How many people, unfortunately, are disinterested in their neighbor, leading a selfish life, or despise the poor by wasting their property on futile things. How many reject simple or sick people, thinking that everyone is only worth what they produce. I am thinking in particular of your commitment to the working-class neighborhoods of Île-de-France with La Cité Céleste: it is there, in the concreteness of everyday life, and sometimes in difficulties, that your faith becomes a vibrant testimony of hope.
Man goes astray when he says that God is dead. If God is not with him, man no longer has salvation and loses the meaning of his existence, which is reduced to an impasse or to nothingness. On the other hand, he who says: For me, to live is Christ! , experiences exactly the opposite. In Christ, in fact, we know that God is never indifferent to man! Through Jesus, crucified and resurrected, He gives His own life so that we may live by it. This is therefore the way of announcing Christ which combines courage and respect: announcing him as the Gospel of salvation; as a word of truth and life. This Gospel is good news for all, a liberating announcement and a rule of new life.
The Gospel of Jesus, in fact, does not lead to conflict, but always invites forgiveness: while it illuminates the drama of history, it forms us in fraternal concern. The encounter with Christ opens to dialogue and prepares for his peace, because it offers to each man and each woman the greatest promise, which fulfills all desires: the promise of eternal life.
Dear Chloé, dear young people, the religious experience of every person expresses this quest for meaning which animates the human soul. In Jesus, the Redeemer of the world, God allows himself to be found by addressing “men as friends” (Const. dogm. Dei Verbum, n. 2). He is the source of living water, the light in the darkness. In the joy of faith, let us proclaim together this evening: for us, to live is Christ!
Thanks to Him, it is possible to combine the missionary impulse with the experience of fraternity towards those who do not believe in God or who belong to other religious traditions. This fraternity, made of listening and mutual esteem, finds its roots in the unity of the human family which, throughout history, has developed the religious dimension as a vital characteristic of each people.
Cultivating a fraternal bond “with those who do not share our faith” therefore contributes to the construction of society; and becomes an exercise of faith and charity; because it is impossible to bear witness to Christ without loving those to whom we want to announce him. The meetings between young people from the Mediterranean region which have taken place in recent years are an encouraging sign of this fraternity.
The Christian message therefore does not constitute an obstacle to fraternal coexistence; on the contrary, he favors it, because he freely invites everyone to listen to news of peace and salvation. Likewise, our mission is not in contradiction with respect for other religions, because the Church rejects nothing that in them is true and holy (cf. Nostra Aetate, n. 2).
Question from François
Most Holy Father, thank you for coming to strengthen us in faith and in our desire to bear witness to the Gospel!
My name is François, I grew up in the Burgundy countryside and I am currently studying agronomy. I like to give my time for the beauty of the liturgy, I am committed to the service of my diocese of Nevers, for mountain biking and for the preparation of a new Burgundian pilgrimage. I am also a scout leader and involved in the student chaplaincy of my school.
In the service of the most vulnerable, in the service of peace in our country and in the world, in the service of the Church of Christ, we, the young people, want to get involved! However, it is often difficult to know how to direct one's life to give of oneself without counting, faithfully, without becoming dispersed or losing courage as the task sometimes seems so disproportionate. Anxiety and uncertainty often weaken the enthusiasm of our youth. How can we discern where the Lord is waiting for us to serve and offer our lives?
Response from the Holy Father
First of all, I thank you very much for your commitment. It is for me a great joy to see so many of you, animated by the desire to put yourselves at the service of peace which makes us grow as men and women, by transforming fears into hope, and complaints into responsible commitment. Today, this great mission is more urgent than ever, because it invites us to navigate with discernment at the heart of current technological and digital changes, without diminishing our humanity.
In particular, when we dedicate ourselves to protecting the smallest and weakest, we recognize our own weakness in which we all find ourselves. This fragility specific to human life does not frighten us, but unites us as creatures who discover themselves brothers and sisters in Christ. He is the first who gives himself to us, and the living sign of this grace is the Eucharist, “source and summit of all Christian life” (LG 11). We draw from this sacrament, which supports our faith, the strength to give ourselves, too, to our neighbor, imitating the gratuitousness of the Lord Jesus. The search for justice and peace requires us to recognize the conflicts we ourselves experience, and to purify our hearts. By committing ourselves to the service of God and others, our wounds find consolation and redemption.
There is no failure from which God cannot relieve us: his mercy is our joy. And yet you cited anxiety and uncertainty as obstacles to your enthusiasm. These are very widespread feelings due to the precariousness of future plans, the provisional nature of emotional ties and the fragility of relationships. Added to these feelings are others that weigh on your generation, such as screen fatigue and anxiety about climate change or the economic and international situation. Yes, we need to listen attentively to these feelings. I invite you all, dear young people, to keep your hearts open to the suffering of your comrades.
At the same time, the experience of fragility, of all fragility, becomes for a disciple of Christ an opportunity for witness. Those who follow Jesus on the path of humble and free service are freed from anxiety and find new enthusiasm, experiencing inner joy and peace; not fleeting or subjective feelings, but anchored in the certainty of the faith to which we witness together as Church.
Yes, together we form the Church: fragile and holy, like clay vessels which contain treasure (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Saint Paul reminds us, once again, that it is precisely in weakness that we are strong (cf. 2 Cor 12:10). It is especially in times of difficulty that God supports our freedom and encourages us with his grace. He wanted to live as a man, so that we could live with Him, forever, as joyful witnesses of hope.
Dear friends, it is in this friendship with Jesus that our discernment takes place, a reflection imploring the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is a constant exercise to move forward with order and confidence.
How to discern correctly?
First of all, remember that the Word of the Lord is always a lamp for our steps (cf. Ps 119:105). In the light of the Gospel, spiritual formation occurs through prayer and service; worship and action; silence – this silence so rare and so necessary, far from the media din – and the announcement.
Then, draw inspiration from the example of the saints: even in persecution, these brothers and sisters opened paths of peace. Look at these priests passionate about Christ, like Saint Eugene de Mazenod and Saint Jean-Marie Vianney; look at the mystical beauty of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus; Blessed Pauline Jaricot, fervent in charity and mission; the courage of the 50 [fifty] martyrs of the apostolate of the Second World War who served their brothers until the sacrifice of their lives. The saints changed the course of history, moving many people from suffering to hope; for they first changed their own hearts, transforming them in the light of faith.
Dear young people, when you discern your vocation, be sure that the Lord does not speak to you in a confused way, but addresses each one by name, and he invites you to follow him because he loves you. By welcoming his Gospel with a clear mind and pure heart, you will understand how Jesus calls you to serve. It is always a gift of life: full, faithful, overflowing with love. To overcome anxiety or uncertainty, have the courage to say one word, simple and magnificent: thank you. Thank you, Jesus, for your love.
This is why now, without fear but with confidence and full of joy, we can already say together, following the saints: Here I am, Lord!
And I am speaking to those of you – and there are many here this evening – who think they hear the call to follow Jesus on the path of priesthood or consecrated life. The Church in France needs you so much!... it prays for you, it waits for you. Dear friends, do not be afraid of this call! Be bold; trust in Jesus who wants to make you his closest friends: He will not disappoint you and will always be at your side; your life will be wonderfully beautiful and fruitful.
To conclude, we can take up this prayer that Saint John Paul II transmitted to us: “Master, you who love and respect the human person, you who have shared the suffering of man, you who enlighten the mystery of human existence, help us discover the true meaning of our life and our vocation! » (Homily during the XII World Youth Day, Paris, August 24, 1997).
Leo XIV's speech at the Stade de France
At night, the light appears even brighter. This is how, dear young people, we heard the words of Saint Paul together. We want to hold them high, like a torch that illuminates not only the prayer of each person, but also the entire history of the Church. The Apostle observes his time, and he welcomes divine inspiration, that is to say the Holy Spirit who always opens bright perspectives for the future. Yes, God is the Lord of history and, whatever happens, He leads it towards salvation: in Christ, all evil finds an end, precisely because the end becomes the beginning of a new and eternal life.
Dear friends, to enlighten our times and transform the present in the light of the Spirit, let us remember above all that, like Timothy, we are men and women of God. This expression – from God –, chosen by Saint Paul, means a bond, and not a possession. He who lives with God is free: free from everything that obscures life and makes it empty and meaningless. Young people of France, you carry in your hearts an immense desire for freedom, a word that resonates powerfully in your culture. But what is the source of true freedom? Jesus tells us clearly
