Young People

The Latest

Pope Francis meets with young cancer patients from Poland at the Vatican on May 29, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with young cancer patients: ‘Jesus is always close to you’

May 30, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis welcomed pediatric cancer patients from Poland to the Vatican on Monday. Read more

Young Salesians in Syria.

How the Salesians are helping youth in Syria, a country in its 12th year of civil war

Mar 16, 2023

By Abel Camasca

March 15 marked the 12th year of civil war in Syria, where bombs, poverty, and earthquakes have destroyed the country. Read more

A person takes a photo of Pope Francis on a cell phone during a papal audience on Dec. 10, 2022.

Pope Francis: Look at each other, not cell phone screens

Dec 15, 2022

By Courtney Mares

“Our eyes are meant to look into the eyes of others. They were not made to look down at a... Read more

The pilgrim image of Maria de Itatí and the multitude of pilgrims in front of the basilica at the Shrine of the Virgin of Itatí in the Archdiocese of Corrientes, Argentina, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

300,000 youths make pilgrimage to Virgin of Itatí in Argentina

Sep 20, 2022

By CNA Staff

Under the theme “Together with Mary, we meet again as a synodal Church,” the young people made a pilgrimage to... Read more

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Spanish bishop: We’re creating ‘monsters’ if youth don’t grow up to be loving and generous

Aug 6, 2022

By CNA Staff

Bishop Juan Carlos Elizalde of Vitoria, Spain, warned that some young people are “at risk” for self-centeredness because of the... Read more

Pope Francis with teens at the opening ceremony of World Youth Day 2019 in Panama.

Pope Francis to teens: Use the summer break well

Jun 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

"I encourage you to use well and responsibly the time that is available to you," Pope Francis said in a... Read more

Pope Francis during his general audience in Paul VI Hall on January 26, 2022.

Pope Francis: Jesus frees us from the ‘paralysis’ of laziness and selfishness

Apr 23, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope met with young people participating in a missionary youth conference. Read more

Pope Francis greets 80,000 teens on pilgrimage in St. Peter’s Square on April 18, 2022.

Pope Francis tells 80,000 teens to ask Our Lady for courage to do God’s will

Apr 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The youth pilgrimage was organized in an effort to reach out to young people whose lives were upended during the... Read more

St. Joseph and the Christ Child, by Guido Reni

Follow St. Joseph's example, Pope Francis tells priests

Mar 19, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has written a letter to the Congregation of Saint Joseph. Read more

Bishop Artur Miziński, secretary general of the Polish bishops’ conference.

Catholic Church in Poland plans to reach out to young people in 2022

Jan 3, 2022

By CNA Staff

Other priorities include helping people in need and synodal consultations. Read more

Pope Francis meets with young people at St. Dionysius School of the Ursuline Sisters in Maroussi, Athens, Dec. 6, 2021.

Pope Francis to youth in Greece: Don’t be ‘prisoners of the cell phone’

Dec 6, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope’s address concluded his three-day visit to Greece. Read more

Pope Francis meets young people of the Scholas Community at Rome’s Pontifical International College Maria Mater Ecclesiae, Nov. 25, 2021

Pope Francis attends student play on how the pandemic has affected young people

Nov 26, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope watched a show called ‘The faces of the pandemic.’ Read more

Pope Francis addresses young people at Lokomotiva Stadium in Košice, Slovakia, Sept. 14, 2021.

Pope Francis to Slovakia’s young Catholics: Confession is the ‘sacrament of joy’

Sep 14, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope spoke to around 25,000 young people in Košice, eastern Slovakia. Read more

Young people hold the World Youth Day cross in Panama in January 2019.

World Youth Day cross given to Portuguese youth ahead of international gathering

Nov 22, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis offered Mass for the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, and afterward oversaw the traditional passing of... Read more

Pope Francis waves from his window overlooking St. Peter’s Square during an Angelus address.

Pope Francis says Blessed Carlo Acutis is a model for young people to put God first

Oct 11, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Sunday that the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis provides a witness for young people that true happiness... Read more

The Church of St. James in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Pope Francis tells youth at Medjugorje: be inspired by the Virgin Mary

Aug 2, 2020

Pope Francis has urged young people gathered in Medjugorje to imitate the Virgin Mary by abandoning themselves to God.  Read more

Archbishop Nelson Perez. Courtesy photo.

US bishops launch year-long dialogue with young Catholics

Jul 27, 2020

Last weekend, a group of 300 Catholics, including 30 bishops and the apostolic nuncio to the United States, kicked off... Read more

Pope Francis at the Cathedral of the Assumption Nov. 22, 2019.

Pope Francis in Thailand: Friendship with Jesus lights your path

Nov 22, 2019

Pope Francis told young people in Thailand Friday that the secret to happiness is to be deeply rooted in faith... Read more

Pope Francis greets young people in Madagascar Sept. 7, 2019.

Jesus has a mission for youth in Madagascar, Pope Francis says

Sep 7, 2019

By ACI Africa

Jesus has called you and has entrusted a mission to you, Pope Francis told a crowd of young people at... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience Feb. 6, 2019.

Pope Francis invites young economists, entrepreneurs to Italy in 2020

May 11, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has personally invited young economists and entrepreneurs to join him in Assisi, Italy, in 2020, to discuss how... Read more