When Pope Leo XIV appeared on a big screen to greet about 16,000 young Catholics at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 21, Amaris Gutierrez was seated near the front among 40 others who planned the digital encounter with the Holy Father.
“It showed me how the youth have a voice,” Amaris, a 15-year-old from Mary of Nazareth Parish in Fort Greene, said of the encounter coming to fruition. “It made you see the power of the youth and how much you can get done if you work together.”
Grace Verna, a 17-year-old ambassador from the Vicariate of Black Catholics Concerns Youth Leadership Ambassador Program (VBCC), said the dialogue with Pope Leo made her “realize how connected we are even though Catholicism is so big.”
Amaris and Grace were two of 13 young Catholics from the Diocese of Brooklyn who traveled to this year’s National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), held in Indianapolis from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22. The group included seven young Catholics from Mary of Nazareth and six from the VBCC.
The delegation was led by Father Dwayne Davis, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Flatlands, and Father Henry Torres, pastor of Mary of Nazareth. The trip was made possible by a grant from the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens.
The three-day conference included Mass and Eucharistic adoration, speakers, music and worship, and interactive exhibits — games, crafts, obstacle courses, meetups, and more — for young Catholics to explore.
Bishop Robert Brennan, who attended with the diocesan contingent, said the conference sent a strong message.
“These kinds of moments are very important for young people to encourage each other in their faith,” Bishop Brennan said. “And quite honestly, they inspire us all and give us a sense of hope.”
Of the dialogue with Pope Leo, Bishop Brennan, who was seated among other U.S. bishops, noted that it was an insight into his personality and his humanity — an opportunity to see a different side of him.
“We were looking at a very large screen. It was almost as if he were there, and it was up close so you could see him smiling; you could see him laughing. You could see his reaction to what was said,” Bishop Brennan recalled. “It really was a genuine exchange, and it was evident that he himself enjoyed it, and that’s nice to see.”
The digital dialogue with Pope Leo began on a light-hearted note, with the moderator asking the Holy Father what his starting entry is for Wordle (the New York Times puzzle game) each morning. Only time will tell how his answer will alter the strategy of the millions of players worldwide.
“I use a different word for Wordle every day,” he revealed. “So there’s no set starting word.”
From there, the five young Catholics took over, asking Pope Leo questions which focused on prayer, technology, and their role in the future of the Church. The Holy Father reminded them that everyone sins and that God always forgives when asked for mercy, explained that “authentic trust” is essential in relationships, and emphasized that technology “can never replace real, in-person relationships.”
He also advised a measured approach to artificial intelligence.
“Be prudent. Be wise. Be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth,” Pope Leo said. “Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
The Holy Father also told the young Catholics that they’re not only the future of the Church but also its present, saying, “Your voices, your ideas, your faith matter right now, and the Church needs you.”
“I see great hope and promise in you, and I trust that the Lord is at work in your lives,” Pope Leo said in closing. “May he continue to bless you, continue to guide you, and strengthen you as you seek to serve him in the Church and every person he places in your path.”
Daniel Mendoza, a 14-year-old member of the diocese’s delegation from Mary of Nazareth, said he believes the Holy Father’s message on AI can “really change young people,” and help them remember that “we can’t let it control us and we have to control” it.
Emmanuel Okurenjoku said he plans to apply Pope Leo’s advice to his daily life, specifically, his message on being persistent in prayer despite distractions.
“That stuck with me. That’s good advice,” said Emmanuel, a 16-year-old VBCC ambassador who attended the conference. “It was very frank for me to hear that from him. I think it’s something that I’m actually going to apply in my life.”
Even beyond the Pope Leo dialogue, Emmanuel, as did other young Catholics The Tablet spoke with, encouraged more young people to attend the conference in the future.
“There is so much to see here. All of the people from all around the country and even outside of the country,” he said. “You cannot walk a few feet without seeing someone from Kansas or from Hawaii or from South Carolina. Everybody has such different experiences.
Yet, we’re all here for the same purpose, for the same religion and the same event.”
Bishop Brennan echoed Pope Leo’s sentiment that the young people attending the conference, and the energy they brought, “is a great sign for all of us.” He also noted the impact they’ll all have back home.
“Take this one experience as an example. Each of those young people … who are going back this weekend will have an impact on a number of other young people,” Bishop Brennan said. “They share that experience, that hope, that joy, and enthusiasm.”
“So that impact is far more reaching than just on those who attended.”