Pope Leo XIV has encouraged young people to be “beacons” of Christ’s hope for others in a video message delivered to thousands of Catholics gathered in his hometown of Chicago. Source: CNA.
“You are the promise of hope for so many of us,” the Pope told young people attending the “Chicago Celebrates Pope Leo XIV” event on Saturday at Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team
“The world looks to you as you look around yourselves and say: We need you, we need you to come together to share with us in this common mission, as Church and in society, of announcing a message of true hope and of promoting peace, promoting harmony, among all peoples.”
The Pope acknowledged some of the difficulties facing youth today, from isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic to dwindling communities of faith. He invited young people gathered to look into their own hearts to see that God is present and “is reaching out to you, calling you, inviting you to know his Son, Jesus Christ.”
In turn, the Pope said this discovery of Christ’s love can inspire young people to serve others.
“And in that service to others we find that coming together in friendship, building up community, we too can find true meaning in our lives,” the Pope said. “To share that message of hope with one another – in outreach, in service, in looking for ways to make our world a better place – gives true life to all of us and is a sign of hope for the whole world.”
The eight-minute video message from Pope Leo XIV was the first time the Chicago native has directly addressed the people of his hometown and home nation as Pope.
Pope Leo XIV’s unprecedented address was also the highlight of pre-Mass programming at the afternoon celebration.
Emceed by Chicago Bulls play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirksy, the program also included musical performances by a local parish and Catholic school as well as an original piano ballad in honour of Pope Leo, One of Us, written and performed by the Pope’s fellow Augustinian Brother David Marshall.
Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Blaise Cupich, who said that Pope Leo was grateful for the celebration taking place at Rate Field.
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Pope Leo XIV encourages young people to be ‘beacons of hope’ at Chicago event (By Jonathan Liedl, CNA)
