Pope Leo XIV sent a surprise video message yesterday to the thousands of young people attending the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne, encouraging them to embrace their God-given identity and walk boldly as disciples in today’s world.
Day one of the festival yesterday saw the young pilgrims take part in a five-kilometre walk from St Patrick’s Cathedral to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for the opening session.
Accompanied by the World Youth Day Cross and Icon, which returned to Australia for the first time in 20 years, the walk was a moving public witness to the faith, diversity and youthful vibrancy of the Church in Australia.
In his video message, Pope Leo told the pilgrims, “Our lives find their ultimate purpose in becoming who God made us to be, by living out his will.”
“You are not the result of a random process. Each of you is willed, each of you is loved, each of you is necessary.”
Pope Leo urged young people not to be discouraged by cultural trends that dismiss traditional values or isolate individuals despite the promise of connection.
“Technology may connect us,” he noted, “but it can also leave us more isolated.”
Instead, he offered a solution grounded in truth: “Turn to God, especially through prayer and the sacraments. That’s where you’ll hear your Heavenly Father’s voice most clearly.”
The Pope concluded by calling on young pilgrims to draw inspiration from the lives of saints such as St Catherine of Siena, St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati, and to return home ready to “build up the Kingdom of God in your local communities.”
Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli welcomed the young pilgrims to Melbourne.
“Whatever reason has brought you here, somehow Jesus had a part in that,” he said. “You belong here. I want to welcome you to your new house – this house of the Church. And it’s your house, too.”
Closing out the opening plenary was a stirring address by Ukrainian Mykola Cardinal Bychok CSsR, who shared a deeply personal story of growing up in a persecuted Church under Soviet rule.
He spoke candidly of being bullied as a child for his faith and challenged the young crowd to remain courageous in their witness.
“The world may try to silence your faith, but it can never silence your prayer,” he said. “When you pray – especially when it is difficult – you allow God to speak into the deepest part of your heart.”
FULL STORY
Pope Leo XIV inspires thousands at opening of ACYF 2025 (ACYF)
RELATED COVERAGE
Pope Leo addresses Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACBC Media Blog)
Cardinal Bychok tells youth of power of prayer (ACBC Media Blog)
