Several of the participants at the 2025 EWTN Summer Academy in Rome, an intensive program in religious journalism and digital storytelling, come from places where Catholics live their faith amid severe adversity. / Credit: Lemmy Ogbonnaya Ijioma/EWTN Summer Academy

Vatican City, Jul 31, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Mikhail Ajjan fled war-torn Syria and the terrors of ISIS with his family when he was 10. Now a university student in Sweden, the 21-year-old Catholic faces a vastly different challenge of living his faith in a secular environment and is honing his media skills to help spread the Gospel.

Ajjan is one of more than 40 young Catholics from 23 countries who have come together to train in the 2025 EWTN Summer Academy in Rome, an intensive program in religious journalism and digital storytelling, which coincides this year with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Youth.

Several of the academy participants come from places where Catholics live their faith amid severe adversity — from war zones to countries where cartel violence or religious persecution threaten Christian communities.

Among them is Nicolawos Hazboun, a multimedia officer from Bethlehem who works closely with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa documenting life in the Holy Land for the Latin Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On a recent afternoon, Hazboun, 26, paused to reflect on the current situation facing Palestinian Catholics in Bethlehem.

“It’s a blessing for us to be in the same place where Jesus was born,” he said. “My family is one of the biggest Christian families in Bethlehem. … We are in Bethlehem for more than 500 years … And we want to stay.”

But staying isn’t easy. “Nowadays we have a bad situation because of the war,” Hazboun said. “We don’t have any pilgrimage … groups from outside. The people of Bethlehem … depend on the tourists. We don’t have any income.”

Many Christian families in Bethlehem, he added, are leaving for Europe or North America. “We want the Christians of Bethlehem to grow and to increase in numbers, but unfortunately, the numbers of Christians in Bethlehem are getting low because of the situation.”

Hazboun hopes to bring the skills he learns at the EWTN Summer Academy back to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to help him better communicate the experience of Christians in the Holy Land. 

“People are always surprised that there are … Palestinian Christians,” Hazboun said. “I want them to know that we are a strong community.”

“There are still Christians in Bethlehem. … Not all Palestinians are Muslim.”

The EWTN Summer Academy, organized by the global Catholic media network EWTN, CNA’s parent company, is now in its fourth year of training aspiring communicators in skills ranging from video editing to narrative reporting. The academy is held at the Pontifical Urban University’s CIAM center with a panoramic view of Rome and the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and is offered at no cost to participants.

“I feel close to heaven,” said Sister Mary Iyadunni Adeniyi, 27, a Nigerian member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel making her first pilgrimage to Rome to take part in the academy.

She recalls vividly the 2022 Pentecost massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria, where dozens of Catholics were killed.

“It feels bad that you just go out and you could get killed,” she said. “We pray that God will help our faith and God could restore peace in our country.”

Even so, Sister Mary remains committed to building a hopeful future. “The charism of my congregation is evangelization through inculturation,” she explained.

“Now, it’s a digital world … so we also have to use that for evangelization.” She edits videos, designs graphics, and believes strongly in the potential of online platforms to reach young hearts.  

“Where can you find the young people in the 21st century? In the media,” the sister said. 

In Vietnam, Tâm Nguyên Bùi, 31, works with the Vietnamese bishops’ conference and also volunteers for the local archdiocese in Saigon.

“Even though we are a minority in the population — about 7% of 100 million people in the country — we have profound experiences in family life… and devotion in the churches,” Nguyên said. 

“In the EWTN Summer Academy 2025, we are alongside 43 communicators from 23 countries. We come from different backgrounds, different experiences of faith also. I really learn when I speak with others about how they live their faith in their country. For some, it is freely and it’s very enjoyable, but sometimes with difficulties,” he said. 

Nguyên has translated some of the writings of St. John Paul II into Vietnamese and is a veteran of Catholic youth gatherings across Asia. He said that Catholics in Vietnam are hoping that Pope Leo XIV will visit Vietnam soon. “We try to pray that the relationship between Vietnam and the Holy See is better and gets better.”

For Ajjan, the Jubilee of Youth will be a continuation of the rewarding experience that he had at the last World Youth Day.

“I’ve been to the World Youth Days in Portugal and I got hooked. So I was like, ‘I’m going to the jubilee. I’m going to South Korea,” he said referring to the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul. 

Ajjan has also found a way to serve his local Catholic community. With EWTN Sweden, he helps a young priest to produce a weekly homily video series.  

“In our city, we have a very good youth pastor,” he explained. “And we started to film a Sunday homily series with him. So each Wednesday we filmed the series, edited it, and then put it out on Sunday morning. … It was really, really fun.”

From Lebanon, Marguerita Kallassy is a trilingual journalist for ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, also owned by EWTN. She has covered everything from street protests to massive religious processions. But her heart lies in telling Catholic stories.

“It was so magical to bring that part of the East that still believes … that still has a place for Jesus in their lives,” she said.

She wants to correct the common misperception that Christianity is all but vanished from the Middle East. 

“People never realize the scale [of Christianity] in the East. … They thought we have only Muslim community in Lebanon so I really need to tell people that this is the birthplace of Jesus. I mean — Jesus is not from New Jersey, you know?” she joked.

“My work with the EWTN inspired me so that I applied to the Sorbonne … in media studies,” she said. Kallassy will start her graduate studies in Paris in the fall.

Daniela Sánchez y Sánchez, 21, grew up in Puebla, Mexico, and is now studying journalism in Spain.

“Since I was a little kid, I always wanted to know … everything about everything,” she said. She began working with Radio María and the Archdiocese of Puebla to report the news of the local Church and bring a message of faith to a country torn by drug violence. 

The Church’s response, she said, has always been prayer — even for those committing violence. “[We] pray for all the victims, for all the priests who have been affected by this, and pray for those people … who are bad and want to do bad to our community,” she said. “We all need to have mercy and pray for them.”

Seated in view of St. Peter’s, Sánchez marveled at the experience. “If you’re into spreading God’s message throughout the world and journalism, this is the best opportunity God has given us.”

Sculpture of St. Ignatius of Loyola inside of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. / Credit: Vasilii L/Shutterstock

National Catholic Register, Jul 31, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The famous sickbed conversion of the founder of the Jesuits was only the beginning of his story of patience, perseverance, and trust.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for relations with states, celebrates Mass at Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City on July 27, 2025. / Credit: Courtesy of Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Vatican City, Jul 30, 2025 / 17:09 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations of the Holy See, noted that universities are not Catholic “because of the number of crucifixes” but because they strive to seek truth that is “in harmony with the certainty of faith.”

“Far from being just another institution in the global marketplace of ideas, and much less Catholic just because of the number of crucifixes on its walls or chapel services, a truly Catholic university is a place where the search for truth is in harmony with the certainty of faith,” he noted.

As reported by Vatican News, Gallagher gave his reflections during the inaugural conference of the 28th general assembly of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), held July 28 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

During his visit to Mexico, the prelate emphasized that Catholic universities are called to play a “central role” in building peace through knowledge, dialogue, and the formation of ethical leaders.

In his address, the archbishop strongly argued that, in a context marked by armed conflict, ideological divisions, and growing polarization, Catholic universities must reaffirm their original vocation: to be beacons of humanity and understanding.

“Catholic universities — and also papal representatives — have always been beacons of knowledge, faith, and service to humanity,” he said.

The prelate thus emphasized their potential as active agents in the international arena: “In these turbulent times marked by conflict and war, division and mistrust, [universities] are called to reaffirm their vocation as builders of peace, collaborators in building bridges of understanding between cultures, religions, and disciplines.”

Academic diplomacy: A bridge between cultures and knowledge

From this perspective, Gallagher defended the concept of “academic diplomacy,” which he defined as an essential instrument for dialogue between peoples and fields of knowledge. “They can uniquely develop academic diplomacy as a means to promote peace through thoughtful engagement, ethical reflection, and respectful dialogue,” he explained, insisting that the university vocation goes far beyond the transmission of technical knowledge.

Gallagher also proposed rediscovering the universal value of a deep-rooted Catholic identity, capable of dialogue with everyone without losing its center.

“A truly Catholic education is not isolated but extroverted and committed to the universal search for truth,” he affirmed. “In a world awash in relativism and polarization, this deeply rooted — and therefore universal — Catholic identity constitutes a powerful resource.”

In this regard, he recalled that the Christian conception of the human being is a solid foundation for peace: “The anthropological conception that sees every person, regardless of race, religion, nationality, or condition, in the image and likeness of God, endowed with reason and conscience, and destined for communion, is a solid foundation upon which to build peace through dialogue.”

The archbishop also recalled his experience as a student at the Pontifical Gregorian University to illustrate how the university environment can foster authentic bonds. Along these lines, he affirmed that universities are “seeds of peace that are sown in classrooms, laboratories, residences, and libraries.”

He therefore said that the entire university can be an authentic diplomatic mission: “not an ivory tower disconnected from reality, but an active participant in building a culture of peace.”

This mission, he clarified, requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative structure: “This is intrinsically interdisciplinary, because only mutual exchange enriches all parties and contributes to the development of leaders capable of guiding their societies with wisdom and compassion.”

Regarding the content that should occupy a prominent place in this academic diplomacy, the Vatican official emphasized that many of the challenges of war and peace “in today’s world can only be addressed in a sustained manner by returning to these principles and applying them.”

“If they are ignored, already difficult situations can deteriorate rapidly and with terrible consequences,” he explained.

He also emphasized that diplomacy requires specialists but also “needs generalists who seek a broad and nuanced vision.”

Finally, the archbishop reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to a diplomacy that does not surrender to pragmatism but remains anchored in principles and humanity.

“In our efforts, we promote peace, defend human dignity, and give a voice to those without one, especially the poor, the displaced, and the marginalized,” he concluded.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile during a surprise ride around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican following the Jubilee of Youth welcome Mass on July 29, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 15:39 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV made a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening to greet the thousands of participants at the welcoming Mass for the Jubilee of Youth.

After touring the square, the Holy Father addressed the youth in Italian, Spanish, and English from the main altar. “‘Buona sera, buenas tardes,’ good evening,” Leo XIV said, causing the crowd to roar.

In English, the pope recalled Jesus’ words: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13:16).

“And today, your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries; are all for Jesus Christ, and you will be heard until the ends of the earth,” he proceeded, switching to Spanish. “Today begins a few days, a journey: the Jubilee of Hope, and the world needs messages of hope. You are this message, and you must continue to give hope to everyone,” he added.

“Let us hope that all of you will always be a sign of hope for the whole world,” said the Holy Father, this time speaking in Italian.

“Today we are beginning, and in the coming days we will have the opportunity to be a force that will give God’s grace, that will be [a source of] hope, and that will give light to the city of Rome and to the entire world,” he stated in his extemporaneous remarks.

Leo XIV then asked the young people to walk together “with our faith in Jesus Christ.” From St. Peter’s Square, he also prayed for peace for the entire world: “Our cry must also be for peace in the world. Let us all say: We want peace in the world! We want peace in the world! Let us pray for peace.”

“May we be a witness to the peace of Jesus Christ, of reconciliation, of this light of the world that we are all seeking,” the Holy Father added, again in Spanish. Finally, he prayed together with the thousands of young people and imparted his blessing.

“We’ll see you! We’ll meet at Tor Vergata! Have a good week!” the pope said in parting, referring to the prayer vigil he will hold with young people on the evening of Aug. 2 and the final Mass for the Jubilee of Youth, which he will celebrate Aug. 3.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CN

Pope Leo XIV signs a portrait of himself for a pilgrim at his general audience on July 30, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 15:09 pm (CNA).

Before a packed St. Peter’s Square filled with young people who had come from all over the world for the Jubilee of Youth, Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday gave his first general audience after his vacation in Castel Gandolfo.

Aboard the popemobile, the pontiff toured the colorful esplanade, warmly and enthusiastically greeting the hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims waving the flags of numerous countries.

At the beginning of his July 30 catechesis, the last in a series dedicated to the public life of Jesus, the Holy Father lamented the climate of violence and hatred that marks our time, a reality that, he affirmed, “deeply wounds human dignity.” Against this backdrop, he firmly emphasized: “Our world needs healing.”

“We live in a society,” he explained, “that is becoming ill due to a kind of ‘bulimia’ of social media connections: We are hyperconnected, bombarded by images, sometimes false or distorted.”

The silent proximity of Jesus

Faced with these messages that provoke “contradictory emotions,” the pontiff warned that there is often an impulse “to turn everything off” and even to prefer not to feel anything anymore,” thus running the risk of losing the ability “to say to one another the most simple and profound things.”

In this context, Pope Leo XIV suggested meditating on the passage from the Gospel of St. Mark that presents a man who neither speaks nor hears (cf. Mk 7:31-37). He emphasized that “it is not he who comes to Jesus to be healed, but others bring him.”

“The Christian community, however, has also seen in these people an image of the Church, which accompanies each person to Jesus so that they may listen to his word,” he explained.

He noted that Jesus “takes this person aside,” which seems to “emphasize his isolation.” However, the pontiff pointed out that this gesture helps us understand “what lies behind the silence and closure of this man, as if Jesus had perceived his need for intimacy and closeness.”

“Jesus offers him silent closeness, through gestures that speak of a profound encounter: He touches this man’s ears and tongue,” he added.

He also emphasized that Jesus doesn’t use many words but rather says “only what is necessary in that moment: ‘Be opened!’” For the Holy Father, with this “simple and beautiful” word, Jesus invites him to open himself to this world that frightens him and to the relationships that have disappointed him.

‘To truly know Jesus, one must complete a journey’

Pope Leo pointed out that the attitude of the man in the Gospel could reflect the experience of someone who feels “inadequate” or is afraid to express themselves for fear of making a mistake. “All of us experience what it means to be misunderstood,” he noted.

He therefore emphasized the need to ask the Lord to heal our way of communicating, “not only so that we may be more effective, but also so that we may avoid wounding others with our words.”

In light of the Gospel, Pope Leo XIV recalled: “To truly know Jesus, one must complete a journey; one must remain with him and also pass through his Passion.”

“When we have seen him humiliated and suffering, when we have experienced the saving power of his cross, then we can say that we have truly come to know him. There are no shortcuts to becoming disciples of Jesus,” he emphasized.

At the end of his catechesis, the pope encouraged the faithful to ask the Lord “that we may learn to communicate with honesty and prudence. Let us pray for all those who have been wounded by the words of others.”

“Let us pray for the Church, that she may never fail in her mission to lead people to Jesus, so that they may hear his word, be healed by it, and in turn become bearers of his message of salvation,” he concluded.

Bright beacons of hope in the world

During his greetings to the pilgrims, the pope addressed in particular all the young people participating in the Jubilee of Youth, encouraging them to open their hearts “to God’s healing love, so that you can become even brighter beacons of hope in the world.”

“May this encounter with Jesus in fraternal communion strengthen your faith and your hope, fill your hearts with peace, and unite you in his love. Receive these gifts from Christ and share them with your contemporaries and compatriots in your homeland,” he added.

In his message to the Spanish-speaking faithful, the Holy Father urged them to pray “so that these days of faith, reflection, and friendship may bear fruit.” His words sparked a roaring ovation, and the square vibrated with loud applause, with the youth shouting: “[We are] the pope’s young people!”

Sorrow over church attack in Democratic Republic of Congo

The pope renewed his “deep sorrow” for the brutal terrorist attack that took place on the night of July 26-27 in Komanda in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 40 Christians were murdered in a church during a prayer vigil and also in their own homes.

“As I entrust the victims to God’s loving mercy, I pray for the wounded and for Christians around the world who continue to suffer violence and persecution. I urge those with local and international responsibility to work together in order to prevent such tragedies,” he stated.

Finally, the Holy Father recalled that Aug. 1 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, an agreement between 35 countries to guarantee security in the context of the Cold War.

This event, the pontiff stated, “renewed interest in human rights, with special emphasis on religious freedom.” He also recalled that the Holy See’s active participation “helped to promote political and moral commitment to peace.”

“Today, more than ever, it is essential to safeguard the spirit of Helsinki: to persevere in dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and make diplomacy the preferred path to prevent and resolve conflicts,” the Holy Father emphasized.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi (second from left) with Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Alistair Dutton (second from right) and Caritas Youth delegates during the Jubilee of Youth in Rome on July 29, 2025. / Credit: Kristina Millare/CNA

Vatican City, Jul 30, 2025 / 13:39 pm (CNA).

President of Caritas Internationalis Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD, praised the Church’s young humanitarians this week for their generous dedication to the world’s poor, saying they are bearers of hope who have overcome the world’s “biggest problem” of selfishness.

“You see, there are many problems right now,” Kikuchi told CNA in an interview. “But the biggest problem is that people are becoming very, very selfish — to think about themselves only and forget about the cry of those people in need.”

“Young people are living in difficult situations now in many countries,” he said. “The social situation, the economic situation, jobs, and education are not satisfactory and so young people are really only interested in themselves.”

“Caritas wants to tell people that opportunities are not only for them — God created everybody and everybody are brothers and sisters,” he continued.

“We are equal,” he said. “So we have to think about other people.”

In Rome to support the multinational Caritas Youth delegation participating in the July 28 to Aug. 3 Jubilee of Youth, the Japanese cardinal expressed great pride in the young men and women who have chosen to commit themselves to Caritas’ mission to serve the poor. 

“These young people are the real present of this world today,” the cardinal told CNA during his brief visit Tuesday with Caritas Youth delegates stationed near St. Peter’s Basilica to raise awareness of the Church’s humanitarian work with passersby and other jubilee pilgrims.

Kikuchi, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in December 2024 and has worked for Caritas since 1995, presides over the Church’s global humanitarian network — comprising 162 national member organizations — operating in thousands of dioceses and parishes in over 200 countries. 

Since the opening of the jubilee dedicated to youth, Pope Leo XIV has reiterated the need for the Church to be witnesses of hope, telling young people to “shout” for peace. This week, he also released his August prayer intention for “mutual coexistence.”

“And today your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries — which are all for Jesus Christ — will be heard to the ends of the earth,” Leo told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening.

“And our cry must also be for world peace,” he insisted. “Let us all say: ‘We want world peace!’”

According to Kikuchi, a missionary priest of the Society of the Divine Word, “Pope Leo is also saying the same thing [as Pope Francis] — that we have to be attentive to the cry of the people.”

Turning Pope Leo’s calls for peace into action 

For Caritas Korea youth delegate Maria Mi Kyong Kim, the pope’s continuous calls for peace have brought profound meaning to her work with the world’s second-largest humanitarian aid and development network.

“His first words out, ‘peace be with you,’ was very strong and powerful to many,” Kim told CNA, reflecting on the pope’s first address given from the balcony of St. Peter’s Square in May. “Peace is perhaps the essence of everything.” 

“At this moment, there are so many protracted crises and so many countries that are facing economic failures,” she said. “If you look deep down there is always that issue of ‘peace’ within the country and also with neighboring countries, and there are always constant conflicts.”

Building community, solidarity among people within regions 

Caritas Asia youth coordinator Sam Ratha Lay said the Church needs “the hands of young people” to support the vast region’s activities aimed at helping families affected by natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

“We need them to join together to build communities and even prevent [future] disasters,” he said. 

Supporting the poor, vulnerable in one’s own country   

Concerned by the social problems within her own country, Caritas Egypt youth delegate Engy Zaher coordinates a 90-day residential drug rehabilitation program in her home country. 

“Many younger people and families are facing challenges such as addiction, lack of economic empowerment and youth empowerment, poverty, and lack of access to mental health support,” she told CNA.

“Our professional services and our presence gives people hope and the real chance of rebuilding their lives with dignity,” she said.

Raising the voices of the poor to world leaders

Looking forward to reading Pope Leo’s highly-anticipated first encyclical once it is released, Edward Marshall, who volunteers with Caritas’ England-Wales branch known as the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), said the role of advocacy is just as important as fundraising or emergency response coordination.

“About 40% of our work is in advocacy in London,” he shared with CNA. “So, campaigning in Westminster for U.K. politicians on global issues like the debt crisis, the migration crisis, and climate change.”

Speaking about the world’s future leaders who will, one day, hold positions of authority and influence in the secular world, Marshall said youth today “have a lot of energy and a lot of wisdom.”

“Younger people have a much greater understanding than people think on the issues that they care about,” he said. “If they have, or are given, a platform, they’ll use it to the best of their abilities.”

Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, speaks with “EWTN News Nightly” on March 4, 2025. / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

CNA Newsroom, Jul 30, 2025 / 09:45 am (CNA).

The defense came as Barron received the Josef Pieper Prize in Münster on July 27 amid fierce protests from Catholic groups and political organizations.

Journalism students have traveled from across the globe to Rome to take part in the fourth annual EWTN Summer Academy from July 21–31, 2025. / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 30, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

This week, Pope Leo XIV welcomed journalism students to Rome who have traveled from across the globe to take part in the fourth annual EWTN Summer Academy.

The 40 students joined thousands of others gathered for the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and the Jubilee of Youth. On Sunday, Pope Leo said to the young crowds: “I greet the faithful from Kearny, New Jersey; the Catholic Music Award group; and the EWTN Summer Academy.”

The Summer Academy attendees will collaborate on stories and work in teams to produce, shoot, and edit videos over the 10-day course. The goal is that after the training, networking, and prayer, the students will have the skills to go out and be digital missionaries in an age where so much of what people learn and consume is online.

While the students are from 20 different countries and come from various backgrounds in journalism, they are united by the same mission.

One student told “EWTN News Nightly” in Rome: “I was very amazed that we’re all here for the same reason, to work for God and do what we can in this world to spread the truth … It’s very humbling to know that we’re all here connected together, fighting for what is right.”

“We do everything for the Church and ultimately for the evangelization to bring people closer to God,” another student added. “So when you step outside of yourself and you say, ‘It’s not about me, it’s about God,’ you can do almost anything.”

Other young journalists taking part in the July 21–31 summer course are Charbel and Giovanni Lteif, Lebanese twin brothers who have been creating content on social media about Christianity in the Eastern region.

The brothers have built their Christian platform in just one year, expanding across multiple social media outlets to reach global audiences. The success of their digital work earned them acceptance into the academy.

In Rome, Charbel told EWTN that Generation Z is “coming to Christ in big numbers, and that’s very beautiful to see. And people miss tradition. They miss a sense of belonging, a sense of not scrolling all day.”

Giovanni added: “And I think that people, when they see the faith in the East, they get excited and motivated. ‘If they have that strong faith in the East, I want to have it here too.’ So it’s like connecting the entire world … in our faith.”

While working with the 40 students from a number of different nations, Giovanni said: “It was the first time in my life I saw how global our Church is. And I saw that no matter where you are on earth, if you have good Christian values, we’re the same … This is how we change the world; 40 people or 12 disciples, change the world.”

During the closing Mass for the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries, Pope Leo said to the digital creators: “It is not simply a matter of generating content but of creating an encounter of hearts. This will entail seeking out those who suffer, those who need to know the Lord, so that they may heal their wounds, get back on their feet, and find meaning in their lives.”

Father Charles-Michel de l’Épée founded the National Institute for Deaf Youth of Paris in 1760. / Credit: Public domain

CNA Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The National Institute for Deaf Youth of Paris was founded in 1760 by Father Charles-Michel de l’Épée.

Pope Leo XIV blesses Elizabeth Busby and her baby on the way at the Mass for Digital Missionaries on July 29, 2025, at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. A family and marriage therapist, Busby hosts the “Discerning Marriage” podcast and developed the Next Step formation program for people who are discerning marriage. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 29, 2025 / 16:29 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday participated in the Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, encouraging them to create encounters “between hearts” regardless of the number of followers they have.

The Holy Father arrived at the Vatican basilica at the end of the Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

More than a thousand Catholics from different countries participated in the event, which also coincided with the Jubilee of Youth, filling the basilica with young and enthusiastic faces.

In his address — delivered in Italian, English, and Spanish — Pope Leo XIV shared three missions or challenges when it comes to evangelizing online:

1. Proclaim peace to the world.

For Pope Leo, peace “needs to be sought, proclaimed, and shared everywhere; both in places where we see the tragedy of war and in the empty hearts of those who have lost any meaning of life and the desire for introspection and the spiritual life.”

Leo emphasized that “today more than ever, we need missionary disciples who convey the gift of the risen Lord to the world” and who give voice to the hope that the living Jesus gives us “to the ends of the earth” and to “the farthest reaches, where there is no hope.” 

2. Seek the “suffering flesh of Christ” in those one encounters.

The Holy Father asked Catholic influencers to always seek “the suffering flesh of Christ” in every brother or sister they encounter online.

In the context of a new culture shaped by technology, he appealed to the responsibility of digital missionaries to ensure that culture “remains human.”

“Nothing that comes from man and his creativity should be used to undermine the dignity of others. Our mission — your mission — is to nurture a culture of Christian humanism and to do so together. This is the beauty of the ‘internet’ for all of us,” the pope stated.

Faced with cultural changes throughout history, the pope emphasized that “the Church has never remained passive; she has always sought to illuminate every age with the light and hope of Christ by discerning good from evil and what was good from what needed to be changed, transformed, and purified.”

Given the challenge of artificial intelligence, the Holy Father emphasized that we must reflect on the authenticity of our witness, “on our ability to listen and speak, and on our capacity to understand and to be understood.  We have a duty to work together to develop a way of thinking, to develop a language, of our time, that gives voice to love,” he noted.

“It is not simply a matter of generating content but of creating an encounter of hearts. This will entail seeking out those who suffer, those who need to know the Lord, so that they may heal their wounds, get back on their feet, and find meaning in their lives,” the pontiff added.

To achieve this, he advised “accepting our own poverty, letting go of all pretense and recognizing our own inherent need for the Gospel. And this process is a communal endeavor.”

3. Go and mend the nets.

Just as Jesus called his first apostles while they were mending their fishing nets, Pope Leo XIV said that “he also asks this of us.”

The pope noted that “he asks the same of us today. Indeed, he asks us to weave other nets: networks of relationships, of love, of gratuitous sharing where friendship is profound and authentic.”

“Networks where we can mend what has been broken, heal from loneliness, not focus on the number of followers but experience the greatness of infinite love in every encounter,” he counseled.

In short, the pontiff encouraged the missionaries and influencers to create “networks that give space to others more than to ourselves, where no ‘bubble’ can silence the voices of the weakest; networks that liberate and save; networks that help us rediscover the beauty of looking into each other’s eyes; networks of truth. In this way, every story of shared goodness will be a knot in a single, immense network: the network of networks, the network of God.”

He also invited them to be “agents of communion” and to avoid individualism. Finally, he thanked them for their commitment and for the help they offer to those suffering, and “for your journey along the virtual highways.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.