Leo XIV to the young people of Lima: "Do not settle for living according to what others expect of you"

At the National Stadium in Lima, at the prayer vigil with young people and university students that closed his first full day in Peru, Leo XIV gave the young three words, passion, vocation and friendship, and an invitation not to be afraid of the future: "Do not settle for living according to what others expect of you. God created you capable of doing a good that no one else will be able to accomplish in exactly the same way" (our translation from the Italian text reported by Vatican News).

The stadium's welcome. The vigil began at 6 p.m. local time (midnight in Rome). The Pope entered in the popemobile amid chants of "¡Bienvenido a casa Papa León!" and "la juventud del Papa"; according to Vatican News, some 60,000 young people were inside the stadium and about 300,000 outside. Opening the vigil, the Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio, recalled the Pope's many years in Peru "as a seminarian and Augustinian missionary" and said that "nothing is more effective than the word of one young person to another to revive faith" (our translation). On the pitch, young people in costume portrayed the five saints of Peru.

Three stories. Joao Meza, 18, a medical student, spoke about the loneliness of adolescence and how dance, through his parish's initiatives, brought him back to "a God who dances too"; the Pope embraced him. Emily Milagros, head of youth ministry in the Diocese of Carabayllo, spoke about grief and spiritual accompaniment: "faith does not make pain disappear as if by magic, but teaches us to live it by letting ourselves be accompanied." Sister Luzbinda Ramos Zurita, of the Ursuline Sisters Daughters of Mary Immaculate, who lost her mother at 17, described finding "the open arms of the Father" (Vatican News, our translation).

Passion. "What are you looking for?" the Pope asked, taking up Jesus' first words in the Gospel of John. Passion, he explained, drives us to give our best, but "also recalls suffering": "There are young people who feel lonely, even when they are in company. Others carry the pain of a loss or uncertainty about their future. Sometimes we ask ourselves why God allows certain things or why He seems to remain silent precisely when we need Him most" (our translation). Then: "Christ did not desire the cross. He desired our salvation. Out of love for us, He accepted it and bore it to the end." And his exhortation: "Dear young people, when you suffer, turn to Jesus. Do not be afraid to speak to him honestly, even when you struggle to find words for prayer." "Be passionate about everything that is worthwhile, about what is true, good and beautiful. Develop your talents, discover the richness of your culture, and dare to undertake magnanimous projects."

Vocation. Following God's will, the Pope said, does not mean giving up one's happiness, and one need not experience evil to feel free: "I would like you to engrave in your hearts the words of Benedict XVI: 'Evil is always poisonous'. Do not be deceived. How could something that harms us make us happy?" It is never too late to start again, because "many times the Lord shows us the way as we walk it" (our translation). His concrete invitation: set aside moments of silence before the Blessed Sacrament; "to some He will ask to become priests or to embrace consecrated life; to others, marriage and starting a family. All are called to put their abilities at the service of others" (our translation). "The Lord takes nothing away, and He gives you everything. Trust in Christ."

Friendship. The third word springs from the relationship with Jesus, from which comes a "truer" friendship, one that "sincerely seeks their good, knows how to forgive and remains faithful in difficulties". "The Church is born and lives from this friendship with Christ. In it we find brothers and sisters who help us move forward," the Pope said. "So do not think you must always appear strong, especially those of you who lead groups or accompany others" (our translation).

The mission and the blessing. In closing, Leo XIV entrusted the young people with a missionary mandate: to think of those going through difficult times, because "a gesture of friendship can change the course of a life", and not to be "afraid to speak about Jesus" (our translation). The vigil ended with the final blessing, given at around 7.55 p.m. local time (1.55 a.m. in Rome, according to Vatican Media footage shared by Catholic Arena). A private dinner with the bishops was scheduled to follow.

What we don't know. At 2 a.m. Rome time the full official text of the address was not yet in the Holy See Press Office Bulletin (which stopped at B0907). The Pope spoke in Spanish: English quotations come from the text shared by CatholicSat, or are our translation of the Italian text reported by Vatican News, as indicated. This article will be updated with the official text.

Sources: Vatican News, address (IT) · Vatican News, testimonies (IT) · Official programme

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