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The following is the Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to young people all over the world for the 40 th World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in the particular Churches on 23 November 2025, on the theme: “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” (Jn 15:27).

 

Message of the Holy Father

Dear young people,

As I begin my first message to you, I would like to say thank you! Thank you for the joy you brought when you came to Rome for your Jubilee, and thank you to all the young people who were united to us through their prayer from every part of the world. It was a precious moment for renewing our enthusiasm for the faith and sharing the hope that burns in our hearts! Rather than being an isolated event, I hope the Jubilee encounter marks for each of you a step forward in Christian life and a strong encouragement to persevere in witnessing to your faith.

That same dynamic is at the heart of the next World Youth Day, which we will celebrate on 23 November, Solemnity of Christ the King, with the theme: “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” ( Jn  15:27). As pilgrims of hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we prepare ourselves to become courageous witnesses of Christ. Let us begin a journey that will lead us to the international World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027. With this in mind, I would like to focus on two aspects of witness: our friendship with Jesus, which we receive from God as a gift, and our commitment to be builders of peace in society.

Friends, therefore witnesses

Christian witness arises from friendship with the Lord, who was crucified and rose for the salvation of all. This witness is not to be confused with ideological propaganda, for it is an authentic principle of interior transformation and social awareness. Jesus chose to call his disciples “friends.” He made known to them the Kingdom of God, asked them to remain with him, to become his community, and sent them to proclaim the Gospel (cf.  Jn  15:15, 27). So when Jesus tells us, “Be witnesses,” he is assuring us that he considers us as his friends. He alone fully knows who we are and why we are here; young people, he knows your heart, your indignation in the face of discrimination and injustice, your desire for truth and beauty, for joy and peace. Through his friendship, he listens to you, motivates you, and guides you, calling each of you to a new life.

The gaze of Jesus, who always wants nothing but our good, precedes us (cf.  Mk  10:21). He does not want us to be servants, nor “activists” of a political party; he calls us to be with him as friends, so that our lives may be renewed. And witness arises spontaneously from the joyful newness of this friendship. It is a unique friendship that grants us communion with God, a faithful friendship that helps us discover our dignity and that of others, an eternal friendship that not even death can destroy, because the risen and crucified Lord is its source.

Let us consider the message the Apostle John gives us at the end of the fourth Gospel: “This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true” ( Jn  21:24). The entire preceding account is summarized as a “testimony,” full of gratitude and wonder, from a disciple who never reveals his name, but calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This title reflects a relationship: it is not the name of an individual, but the testimony of a personal bond with Christ. That is what really matters to John: being a disciple of the Lord and feeling loved by him. We understand, then, that Christian witness is the fruit of a relationship of faith and love with Jesus, in whom we find the salvation of our lives. What the Apostle John writes also refers to you, dear young people. You are invited by Christ to follow him and sit beside him, to listen to his heart and share closely in his life! Each one of you is a “beloved disciple” for him, and from this love comes the joy of witness.

Another courageous witness to the Gospel is the Precursor of Jesus, John the Baptist, who came “to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him” ( Jn  1:7). Although he enjoyed great fame among the people, he knew well that he was only a “voice” pointing to the Savior when he exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God” ( Jn  1:36). His example reminds us that true witnesses do not seek to occupy the center stage, nor to bind their followers to themselves. True witnesses are humble and inwardly free, above all from themselves, that is, from the pretense of being the center of attention. Therefore, they are free to listen, to understand, and also to speak the truth to everyone, even in the presence of those who are powerful. From John the Baptist, we learn that Christian witness is neither a proclamation of ourselves nor a celebration of our spiritual, intellectual or moral abilities. True witness is recognizing and pointing to Jesus when he appears, as he is the only one who saves us. John recognized him among sinners, immersed in common humanity. To that end, Pope Francis insisted so often that if we do not go beyond ourselves and our comfort zones, if we do not go to the poor and those who feel excluded from the Kingdom of God, we cannot encounter Christ and bear witness to him. We lose the sweet joy of being evangelized and of evangelizing.

Dear friends, I invite each of you to continue to individuate Jesus’ friends and witnesses in the Bible. As you read the Gospel, you will find that they all discovered the true meaning of life through their living relationship with Christ. Indeed, our deepest questions are not heard or answered by endlessly scrolling on our cell phones, which captures our attention but leaves us with tired minds and empty hearts. This search will not take us far if we keep it closed within ourselves or in narrow confinements. The fulfillment of our authentic desires always comes through going beyond ourselves.

Witnesses, therefore missionaries

In this way, dear young people, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can become missionaries of Christ in the world. Many of your peers are exposed to violence, forced to use weapons, separated from their loved ones, and compelled to migrate or flee. Many lack education and other essential goods. All share with you the search for meaning and the insecurity that accompanies it, the discomfort of growing social and work pressures, the difficulty of dealing with family crises, the painful feeling of a lack of opportunities, as well as the remorse for mistakes they have made. You can stand alongside other young people, walk with them and show that God, in Jesus, has drawn close to each person. As Pope Francis often said, “Christ shows that God is closeness, compassion and tender love” (Encyclical Letter  Dilexit nos , 35).

Granted, it is not always easy to bear witness. In the Gospels, we often find tension between acceptance and rejection of Jesus: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” ( Jn  1:5). Similarly, the disciple-witness experiences rejection firsthand and sometimes even violent opposition. The Lord does not hide this painful reality: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” ( Jn  15:20). However, it becomes an opportunity to put into practice the greatest commandment: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” ( Mt  5:44). That is what the martyrs have done since the beginning of the Church.

Dear young people, this is not a story that belongs only to the past. To this day, in many places around the world, Christians and people of good will suffer persecution, deceit and violence. Perhaps this painful experience has marked you as well, and you may have been tempted to react instinctively by putting yourselves on the same level as those who have rejected you, adopting aggressive attitudes. But let us recall the wise advice of Saint Paul: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” ( Rom  12:21).

So do not be discouraged: like the saints, you too are called to persevere with hope, especially in the face of difficulties and obstacles.

Fraternity as a bond of peace

From friendship with Christ, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit within us, there arises a way of life that bears the character of fraternity. Young people who have encountered Christ bring the “warmth” and “flavor” of fraternity wherever they go, and anyone who comes into contact with them is drawn into a new and profound dimension, made up of selfless closeness, sincere compassion and genuine tenderness. The Holy Spirit enables us to see our neighbor with new eyes: in the other person there is a brother, a sister!

The witness of fraternity and peace that friendship with Christ awakens in us casts off indifference and spiritual laziness, helping us to overcome closed-mindedness and suspicion. It also builds bonds between us, urging us to work together, from volunteerism to “political charity,” to build new living conditions for all. Do not follow those who use the words of faith to divide; instead, make plans to remove inequalities and reconcile divided and oppressed communities. To that end, dear friends, let us listen to the voice of God within us and overcome our selfishness, becoming active artisans of peace. That peace, which is a gift of the risen Lord (cf.  Jn  20:19), will become visible in the world through the common witness of those who carry his Spirit in their hearts.

Dear young people, in the face of the world’s sufferings and hopes, let us fix our gaze on Jesus. As he was dying on the cross, he entrusted the Virgin Mary to John as his mother, and John to her as her son. That ultimate gift of love is for every disciple, for each of us. I invite you to welcome this holy bond with Mary, a mother full of affection and understanding, and to cultivate it in particular by praying the Rosary. That way, in every situation of our life, we will experience that we are never alone, for as children we are always loved, forgiven and encouraged by God. Bear witness to this joyfully!

From the Vatican, 7 October 2025, Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary

LEO PP. XIV

Accepting the invitation of the Head of State and Ecclesiastical Authorities of the country, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Journey to Türkiye from 27 to 30 November 2025, which will include a pilgrimage to İznik on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

In response to the invitation of the Head of State and Ecclesiastical Authorities of Lebanon, the Holy Father subsequently will undertake an Apostolic Journey in that country from 30 November to 2 December 2025.

The itinerary of the Apostolic Journey will be announced in due course.

Press Conference (8 October 2025)

Press Conference (9 October 2025)

 

Press Conference (8 October 2025)

Tomorrow,  Wednesday 8 October 2025 , at  12.00 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to present the  International Project “ Le Porte della Speranza” – “The Doors of Hope” –  promoted by the Pontifical Foundation  Gravissimum Educationis  of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education. The project is inspired by the opening, at the beginning of the Jubilee, of a Holy Door in Rome’s Rebibbia Prison, and consists of assigning well-known artists the task of designing artistic doors, to be created in dialogue with prison communities and installed in certain prisons in Italy and around the world.

The speakers will be:

-  His Eminence Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça , president of the Pontifical Foundation  Gravissimum Educationis  and prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education;

-  Pres. Stefano Carmine De Michele , head of the Department of Prison Administration of the Ministry of Justice of the Italian Republic;

-  Msgr. Davide Milani , secretary general of the Pontifical Foundation  Gravissimum Educationis ;

-  Professor Davide Rampello , curator of the international project “ Le Porte della Speranza ”;

-  The Honourable Rita Júdice , Minister of Justice of the Portuguese Republic ( via remote link );

-  Professor Giovanni Azzone , president of the CARIPLO Foundation ( via remote link ).

Some of the artists responsible for realizing the Doors of Hope   will be present at the conference.

 

The press conference will be livestreamed in the original language on the Vatican News YouTube channel, at  https://www.youtube.com/c/VaticanNews .

 

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference remotely must apply, no later than two hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event  CS presentazione del Progetto internazionale “Le Porte della Speranza”.

During the request phase, select the option “Sì” in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform and to participate actively in the press conference, with the possibility of asking questions.

 

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event  CS presentazione del Progetto internazionale “Le Porte della Speranza”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

 

Simultaneous translation

Both via the respective linguistic Vatican News YouTube channels and the virtual participation platform indicated in the paragraph above “Remote Participation”, it will be possible to access the simultaneous translation channels and listen to the press conference in  Italian  and  Portuguese .

Simultaneous translation will also be available for those present at the Holy See Press Office.

***

Journalists and media operators who are accredited for the Press Conference are invited to be present 30 minutes before the start time.

 

Press Conference (9 October 2025)

On  Thursday 9 October 2025 , at  11.30 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to present the Apostolic Exhortation  “Dilexi te” of the Holy Father Leo XIV on love towards the poor .

The speakers will be:

-  His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J. , prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development;

-  His Eminence Cardinal Konrad Krajewski , prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity;

-  Fr. Frédéric-Marie Le Méhauté , provincial of the Friars Minor of France/Belgium, doctor in theology ( by remote link );

-  p.s. Clémence , Little Sister of Jesus of the Fraternity of the Three Fountains.

 

The press conference will be livestreamed in the original language on the Vatican News YouTube channel, at  https://www.youtube.com/c/VaticanNews .

 

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference remotely must apply, no later than two hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event  CS Esortazione Apostolica “Dilexi te”.

During the request phase, select the option “Sì” in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform and to participate actively in the press conference, with the possibility of asking questions.

 

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event  CS Esortazione Apostolica “Dilexi te”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

 

Simultaneous translation

Both via the respective linguistic Vatican News YouTube channels and the virtual participation platform indicated in the paragraph above “Remote Participation”, it will be possible to access the simultaneous translation channels and listen to the press conference in  Italian ,  French ,  English  and  Spanish .

Simultaneous translation will also be available for those present at the Holy See Press Office.

***

Journalists and media operators who are accredited for the Press Conference are invited to be present 30 minutes before the start time.

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Portalegre.Castelo Branco, Portugal

Appointment of bishop of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Portalegre.Castelo Branco, Portugal

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Portalegre-Castelo Branco, Portugal, presented by Bishop Antonino Eugénio Fernandes Dias.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Pedro Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp., former superior general of the Portuguese Province of the Spiritans and hitherto president of the Directorate of the Anima Una social support institution.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Pedro Alexandre Simões Gouveia Fernandes, C.S.Sp., was born on 22 June 1969 in Lisboa, in the homonymous Patriarchate.

After completing his secondary studies, he attended the Faculty of Theology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisboa. Subsequently, after joining the Spiritan student community in Restelo, Lisboa, he was awarded a licentiate in moral theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris and a diploma from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Formation of Formators to the Priesthood (C.I.F.S.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He gave his perpetual vows in 1995 and was ordained a priest on 21 June 1996.

He has held the following offices: missionary of the first group of Spiritans sent to Mozambique, joining the missionary team of Netia (diocese of Nacala); founding member of the new mission of São José in Itoculo (2004); vicar forane of the pastoral zone of Monapo-Carapira, Mozambique, and pastoral coordinator of the diocese of Nacala (2000-2009); superior of the Spiritan community of Porto; professor of theology of the diocesan seminary mission of Porto (2010-2018); first assistant to the Provincial Council of the Portuguese Province of the Spiritans and vice president of the Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal (2018-2024); and to date, president of the Directorate of the Anima Una social support institution.

 

Appointment of bishop of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Luis Carlos Lerma Martínez, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Chihuahua, Mexico, until now vicar general of the same archdiocese, as bishop of the diocese of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Lerma Martínez was born on 21 July 1962 in Delicias, State of Chihuahua. He received his priestly formation in the Seminary of Chihuahua and obtained a licentiate in biblical theology from the Real y Pontificia Universidad de México.

He was ordained a priest on 14 October 1993 for the same archdiocese.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar; professor and formator in the major seminary; parish priest of various parishes; rector of the Cathedral and diocesan coordinator for the Safeguarding and Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons; and until now, vicar general of the archdiocese of Chihuahua, Mexico.

This afternoon, in Saint Peter’s Square, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience a group of pilgrims from Croatia, to whom he addressed the following greeting:

 

Greeting of the Holy Father

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.

Pax vobis!

Praise be to Jesus and Mary, Hvaljen Isus i Marija!

Dear Croatian pilgrims,

I welcome you with great joy in Saint Peter’s Square, where you are gathered on the occasion of your national Jubilee Year pilgrimage. Your numerous and prayerful presence is an eloquent sign of the vitality of the faith of your people, who throughout the centuries have remained steadfast in communion with the Church and faithful to the Successor of the Apostle Peter.

It is a source of deep consolation to see how the roots of your faith have not remained fixed in the past, but continue to bear fruit today, thanks to the witness of your families, your parish communities and your associations. The tradition received from your fathers is a precious treasure, which you carefully preserve and are called to renew continually, always remaining open to recognizing what the Holy Spirit inspires.

I thank you from my heart for this fidelity lived in the concrete reality of daily life. I am well aware that many of you find yourselves in different parts of the world, far from your homeland, for work, study or other needs; but wherever you may be, you remain bound to your Christian roots and offer the witness of a people who love Christ and his Church. This consistency of life is an evangelical word that is more eloquent than many speeches.

I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who guides you and accompanies you, and to let yourselves be led by him with confidence and docility. Do not forget that faith grows and is strengthened when it is shared: therefore, I invite you to transmit with joy to your children and to the new generations the Christian values that have formed your long history and your culture. In this way, you will continue to be a leaven of peace, goodness and hope in a world riven by violence and wars, which you too know from your history.

May the Lord bless you, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom you invoke as Advocata fidelissima Croatiae , keep you under her mantle and accompany you on your daily journey. To all of you present here, your families, all your loved ones and all the Croatian people, I cordially impart the Apostolic Blessing, as a sign of the Pope’s closeness and affection for each one of you.

Oremus: Pater Noster…

Blessing