Pope Leo XIV encourages NCYC participants to be open to God’s call
Pope Leo XIV addresses the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis on November 21. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)
By Sean Gallagher
The 16,000 youths that came to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) are at a critical time in their lives when many possibilities are all laid out before them.
At the conference, they see many husbands and wives in their chaperones who are striving to live out their vocation to marriage. They also encounter many religious, deacons, priests and seminarians witnessing to vocations to consecrated life and ordained ministry.
In his live video encounter with the NCYC participants, Pope Leo XIV told the teenagers in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis that he saw on a screen at the Vatican that “now is the time to dream big and be open to what God can do through your lives.”
“Being young often comes with a desire to do something meaningful, something that makes a real difference,” he continued. “Many of you are ready to be generous, to help those whom you love to work for something greater than yourselves.”
The greatness that youths desire, the pontiff said, is ultimately found in a relationship with Jesus.
“Deep down, we long for truth, for beauty and goodness, because we were created for them,” he said. “And this treasure we see as a name, Jesus, who wants to be found by you, wants to be known by you.
“ … A friendship with Jesus is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. It’s not only for saints, or not only for prayers to religious sisters and brothers, it’s for everyone.”
This friendship with Jesus, the pope said, is at the heart of what it means to be a member of and to serve in the Church he founded.
“As you go closer to Jesus, do not fear what he might ask of you,” Pope Leo said. “He challenges you to make changes in your life. It’s always because he wants to give you greater joy, greater freedom.
God is never outdone in generosity.”
He went on to explain to the teenagers at NCYC that, as they grow in their relationship with Christ and in their understanding of themselves as his disciples “your appreciation for the many different vocations of the Church will deepen.”
“Many of you are called to marriage, to family life,” he continued. “The world needs holy families to pass on the faith and show God’s love in daily life. If you think you may be called to marriage, pray for a spouse who will help you grow in holiness, to help you grow in your faith.
“Some of you may be called to the priesthood to serve God’s people through the word and the sacraments. If you feel that tug in your heart, don’t ignore it. Bring it to Jesus. Speak with a priest you trust.
“Others may be called to consecrated religious life, to be witnesses of a joyful life completely given to God. If you sense this call, that gentle tug, do not be afraid. Ask the Lord to guide you, to show you his plan.”
No matter what vocation God leads people to, Pope Leo said, that calling will fill them with happiness and unimaginable blessings.
“Dear friends, as you discern your vocation, trust Jesus,” he said to the NCYC participants and millions of others around the world watching online a livestream of the event. “He knows how to lead you to true happiness. If you open your heart, you will hear him calling you to holiness.
“Pope Benedict XVI once said that Jesus takes nothing away and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive far more than we could ever imagine.
“Your vocation is always connected to the greater mission of the Church, which exists to share the Gospel with the whole world. Jesus sent his disciples to prepare the way for him, to preach, to heal and to bring his mercy to others. After his resurrection, he sent the Apostles to bring his grace to the entire world.
“That mission is yours as well. What greater gift can you offer the world than the gift of eternal life in Christ? What greater cause could you dedicate your life to than the Gospel? The world needs missionaries. It needs you to share the light and the joy that you have found in Jesus.”
(To watch a video of Pope Leo XIV’s live video encounter at NCYC, visit www.archindy.org/ncyc/pope.html.) †
See more stories from the National Catholic Youth Conference here
