Pope to Young People: Do Not Live Your Faith in Isolation in the Social Media Age

Vatican City, November 1, 2025– Pope Leo XIV urged young people not to live their faith in isolation, particularly in today’s social media-driven world. Addressing members of the International Youth Advisory Body (IYAB), the Pope emphasised the importance of synodality, mission, and participation as means to counter isolation and strengthen the Church’s outreach to those in need.

Speaking extemporaneously in English, the Holy Father encouraged the youth to stay close to Christ and to one another, highlighting that their voices and contributions are invaluable to the Church. The IYAB, linked to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, aims to bring the perspective of young people to the Holy See on matters central to the Church’s mission.

Pope Leo noted that many young people today experience faith through social media and online Christian content. While acknowledging that this can be intellectually and emotionally reassuring, he cautioned against faith that remains detached from the “ecclesial body” and not lived out in real-life relationships or communities.

“The danger,” he warned, “is that faith discovered online remains limited to individual experiences.” He added that social media algorithms often create isolated echo chambers that reinforce personal inclinations rather than genuine communion. To counter this, he said, young people must embrace “experiences of lived synodality,” which help overcome barriers of isolation and build authentic faith communities.

The Pope also urged young Catholics to speak on behalf of “the weak, the poor, and the lonely,” including refugees and those struggling for access to education. “Too often,” he reflected, “these voices are drowned out by the noise of the powerful and the successful.” A synodal Church, he said, listens to what the Holy Spirit says through young people and values their unique gifts and charisms.

Highlighting the importance of spiritual over ideological participation, Pope Leo stressed that the Church, as a communion of people of every age and nationality, enriches one another through shared faith. Authentic synodality, he added, is guided by the Holy Spirit and leads to mission. “It is not about rules but about making room for God’s action by listening to the Spirit,” he said.

Encouraging the youth to “look beyond appearances,” the Pope called them to be “leaders of creativity and courage,” discerning how to bring the Gospel to all. He reminded them that mission entails freedom from fear, as the Lord calls believers to “forge new paths.”

Finally, Pope Leo invited young people to follow Christ’s example of compassion and inclusivity. “The Lord always carries the whole world in His heart,” he said, urging them to be “concerned for the suffering of others,” to share in their struggles, and to participate actively in the Church’s universal mission.

Pope to Young People: Do Not Live Your Faith in Isolation in the Social Media Age

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