By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“Only the love of God can provide us with true and perfect joy.”
Pope Leo XIV expressed this in the video message sent to the Steubenville Summer Youth Conference on the occasion of the annual event marking the fiftieth anniversary of these encounters at Franciscan University of Steubenville in the U.S. state of Ohio.
God grants us interior peace
The Pope began by greeting all participants as they gathered in various locations for the Steubenville Summer Youth Conferences during the year marking the fiftieth anniversary of these encounters.
He also recalled that this year marks the eight-hundredth anniversary of the death of Saint Francis. Given that the event is organized by the Franciscan University of Steubenville, the Pope said he considered it fitting to reflect on the message Saint Francis might have for young people today, especially regarding authentic peace and perfect joy.
If one had met Saint Francis on the streets of Assisi in the thirteenth century, the Pope said, he might have looked at people with a serene and loving smile and said: “Pace e bene,” meaning “Peace and all good.” The Pope invited young people to ask themselves: Do I desire true peace for those who come into contact with me?
The Pope acknowledged that people may say this is not always easy, and therefore urged them to remember that Saint Francis was able to sow peace not through his own strength, but because he possessed within himself the source of true peace.
Called to become instruments of His peace
Peace, the Pope said, is a gift from God that is received when one invites the Lord into the heart. Believers are then called to become instruments of His peace, spreading it to families, communities, nations, and the entire world.
He invited young people to take advantage of moments of silence during the conference to discover the peace of Christ, which He promised to His disciples (cf. Jn 14:27).
The Pope asked whether it is truly possible to have joy in very difficult circumstances. He responded:
“It is,” Pope Leo XIV said, “only if our life is founded upon our relationship with God as a loving Father.”
Do not seek satisfaction superficially
The joy that Saint Francis spoke of, the Pope said, “cannot be found through electronic devices, spending hours in front of a screen or endlessly scrolling on social media every day,” warning that such activities often waste valuable time that could instead be used for prayer, authentic friendships, family life, faith formation, study, or sports.
He also said that joy “should never be sought through drug use, alcohol abuse, promiscuity, superficial relationships, obsession with image, or any kind of damaging behavior.” Furthermore, he added that it cannot be found in material goods such as wealth, beauty, fame, or even health, since all of these will eventually be left behind.
Unconditionally loved by Him
The Pope reaffirmed that only God’s love can fill the human heart with true joy.
“If we have the profound conviction that God cares for us as His beloved children, we will not be flustered or discouraged, even in difficult situations,” Pope Leo XIV said.
“Many of you have heard since you were little that God loves you. But do you really believe it? You are precious in God’s eyes (cf. Is 43:4). You are unconditionally loved by Him!”
He encouraged them to truly believe this truth.
Trust in His power to transform us
“If you cultivate a trusting relationship with Him through regular prayer and reception of the sacraments, and if you abandon yourselves into His hands,” Pope Leo XIV said, “then anxiety, sadness, and loneliness will fade away as His grace fills you and His love inflames your heart.”
This, the Pope said, is “the secret” to facing challenging circumstances with a smile.
He urged young people to open their hearts to this reality, to open themselves to God and trust in His power to transform them.
“What can we give Him in return for such great love, for such generous gifts?” Pope Leo XIV asked, answering: “Nothing but ourselves!”
Welcome the Lord’s plans for you
The Pope told participants that the Lord needs missionaries to spread the Word to those who do not know Him, calling them to be holy men and women, faithful Catholic families, priests as spiritual fathers and ministers of the sacraments, and religious men and women as witnesses to the true joy of His kingdom.
“If you sense that the Lord may be calling you to one of these vocations,” Pope Leo XIV encouraged, “do not close yourselves off or turn away in fear, but take a step forward and say to the Lord, ‘Here I am, send me!’ (Is 6:8).”
At the same time, he encouraged them not to be afraid to speak with someone about it, especially a trusted friend, priest, or religious sister.
The Pope concluded by wishing participants a fruitful conference and prayed that during these days they would be filled with Christ’s love, encounter other young people who desire to give their lives completely to Him, and in doing so, find true happiness. – Vatican News
