Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to young people gathered for the Second “Rejoice – National Youth Day” in Lamego, Portugal, on July 26, 2026. Speaking directly to participants, he urged them not to fear the restlessness that often comes with youth. Instead, he said that energy should bring them closer to Christ and push them to live out Gospel values in daily life.
The Pope encouraged the young people to stay rooted in Scripture by reading the Gospel every day. He asked them to keep dreaming of a world marked by peace and fraternity, to keep looking at life with wonder, and to face the future with hope. “Dear young people, do not let anything or anyone steal your hope,” he told them.
He also invited them to bring their biggest questions to God in prayer and silence. Pope Leo suggested they ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do in the Church and in the world? What is my vocation? Are you calling me to marriage, to the priesthood, or to religious life?” He reminded them that behind all those questions is one constant: God calls every person to holiness.
“God always calls us to holiness, and the saints are profoundly human,” he said. “Therefore, be as truly human as Christ himself, and you will certainly change this world for the better.”
Closing his message, Pope Leo praised the joyful gathering in Lamego and looked ahead to the next World Youth Day. “I hope to see you in August 2027 in Seoul,” he said, referring to the international meeting set for South Korea next year.