Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV has called on young people in Spain to become agents of positive change and “the sparks of a new humanity” by living out the values of the Gospel.
Speaking during a youth prayer vigil in Madrid attended by more than 600,000 people, the Pope encouraged young Christians to be missionaries of faith, justice, truth and charity in a world increasingly marked by noise, consumerism and self-interest.
Responding to questions from youth representatives, Pope Leo said prayer and silence are essential for hearing God’s voice and discerning truth from falsehood. He also stressed that both marriage and religious life are important vocations and urged young people to live with integrity and humility.
Drawing from his years as a missionary in Peru, the Pope said encounters with struggling communities strengthened his faith and deepened his commitment to the Gospel. He cited saints such as Saint John Chrysostom, Thomas of Villanueva and Turibius of Mogrovejo as major inspirations.
The Pontiff warned against becoming captive to passing ideologies and trends, saying that truth endures while worldly fashions fade. He encouraged Christians to remain actively engaged in society while maintaining their faith and values.
Addressing the digital age, Pope Leo urged young people to use social media and other platforms to spread the beauty of the Gospel, fight indifference, violence and falsehood, and promote justice and compassion.
He described faith as a way of life expressed through charity, which he said remains one of the most powerful forces for changing history and making the world a better place.
