Pope Leo XIV has sent a message to American teenagers attending a series of summer youth conferences: True joy is not found “spending hours in front of a screen or endlessly scrolling on social media”. Source: OSV News.
In the video message released on Saturday for the 50th anniversary of the Steubenville Youth Conferences hosted by Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, the Pope told young people his message is simple: “Only the love of God can provide us with true and perfect joy.”
“True peace and perfect joy are gifts from God that come when we open ourselves to him and trust in his power to transform us,” he said.
Pope Leo underlined that the hours spent scrolling social media often crowd out time better spent in prayer, building real friendships, being with family, studying or playing sports.
He warned that drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, or a fixation on image or appearance are not paths to fulfillment, adding that even wealth, beauty, fame and health are fleeting.
For the Pope, reflecting on the message of St Francis of Assisi, the answer lies elsewhere. He told the young Catholics that only God’s love can give them genuine and lasting joy, and that trusting in God is what allows people to remain steady even when life gets hard.
“If we have the profound conviction that God cares for us as his beloved children, we will not be flustered or discouraged, even in difficult situations,” he said.
The Pope acknowledged that many of the teens have been told their whole lives that God loves them, but he asked them to reflect on whether they actually believe it and live like it.
“Many of you have heard since you were little that God loves you. But do you really believe it? You are precious in God’s eyes. You are unconditionally loved by Him! Are you certain of this?” he said.
Pope Leo added that the “secret to being able to face challenging circumstances with a smile” lies in having a real relationship with God, built through prayer and the sacraments.
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Pope Leo XIV tells American teens true joy isn’t found in ‘endless scrolling’ on social media (By Courtney Mares, OSV News)
