Vatican City, Oct 2026 : Pope Leo XIV on Saturday met participants of the Jesus Youth International Conference, marking the first audience between the Catholic movement and the Successor of Peter. The Pope praised the movement’s spiritual journey, encouraged its missionary outreach and urged members to preserve unity amid cultural, linguistic and ritual diversity.
The meeting comes 40 years after Jesus Youth emerged in Kerala, India, through the spontaneous initiative of young people associated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
In his address, Pope Leo described the gathering as a “special encounter” and reflected on the movement’s development and its role in the life of the Catholic Church.
He recalled that Jesus Youth began when young people, inspired by their experience of Christ’s love, sought to bring their enthusiasm and spiritual initiatives together within a structure capable of sustaining their faith and missionary commitment.
“The starting point for every authentic renewal in the Church is one’s own discovery of Jesus’ love,” the Pope said, highlighting the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in strengthening Christian faith.
Vatican Approves Revised Statutes of Jesus Youth
The audience followed a significant development in the movement’s ecclesial journey. On Friday, October 23, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life officially approved the revised statutes of Jesus Youth.
The approval comes nearly a decade after the Holy See recognised Jesus Youth as an international association of the faithful in May 2016.
Over the past three years, members of the movement have undertaken extensive consultations in a synodal style to discern its future direction and strengthen its mission within the Church.
Pope Leo said the movement’s growth brings new responsibilities and opportunities to serve the Church. He encouraged members to continue nurturing their apostolic zeal and extend their mission to more countries.
“Do not lose your apostolic zeal, but rather foster it and carry it to new countries,” he said, stressing that continued growth must remain centred on Jesus Christ.
Pope Highlights Youth Witness and Vocational Discernment
The Pope also acknowledged young members whose lives have become joyful witnesses to the Christian faith. He particularly referred to Ajna George, noting how her love for Jesus in the Eucharist sustained her through illness and personal trials.
He observed that Jesus Youth is active in several regions where Christians form a minority. The members’ witness, he said, can help people discover Christ’s love and deepen their understanding of the Christian faith.
Pope Leo also urged the movement to help young people discern their vocations, including marriage, priesthood and religious life.
“Young people need to know that their lives are great and beautiful because they are part of God’s greater plan,” he said.
Call for Unity Amid Cultural Diversity
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Jesus Youth members to retain their “youthful freshness and enthusiasm for the faith” while patiently addressing challenges arising from differences in liturgical traditions.
He called on members to safeguard unity despite the movement’s diverse social backgrounds, cultures and languages.
The Pope’s message underscored the importance of faith formation, missionary service, vocational guidance and unity as Jesus Youth enters its next phase of development within the global Catholic Church.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
