Pope Leo XIV Tells the Young "God doesn't want to look at our phones: God wants to look at our hearts" to Vatican Summer Camp

VISIT TO THE CHILDREN'S SUMMER SCHOOL IN THE VATICAN
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV
Paul VI Hall
Monday, June 22, 2026
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Question from Federico a Child: Dear Pope Leo, here at Summer Camp, we have a blast without our phones, and we know it's all thanks to you. But we have to admit that during the rest of the year, when we return home, it's almost impossible to tear ourselves away from the screen. We often feel a bit caught up in digital technology and fear losing touch with our true friends or withdrawing into our own world. How can we be champions of technology, using it to do beautiful things while not forgetting the friends around us? Thank you.


Pope Leo XIV: First of all, good morning everyone! Good morning, everyone, big and small. I'm very happy to be here with you this morning. Good. How can we get away from the screen for a bit? That's more or less the question. Right now, if I look carefully, there's only one person with a screen in their hand, and it's because they're taking a photo, but no one else has one, right? So, one important thing: technology can be very good and we need it for many things, but when we're together, it's not necessary to have a cell phone, a mobile phone, or a tablet in our hands at all times. And in fact, we're happy when we're sometimes not tied to our tablets or phones. So that would be a first thing. It's very important to form friendships, get together, play together, maybe even study together as people, not as computers or machines, like techno-robots. We're human beings, people, and contact with others is very important. So that would be a first thing.

Even in the family: the family that gathers together, it's not enough for us all to be there, each looking at our phones. It's very important to learn to dialogue, to converse, to get along well with others, to play together, and even to pray together, because even if we may have the Bible and a few prayers on our phones, God doesn't want to look at our phones: God wants to look at our hearts, our lives. And so, being free from these things, which in themselves can be fun, helpful, beautiful, it's much more important to develop our humanity through friendship, through conversation, and also through all the things you're doing during these months right now, here.

So I think this is a very important thing.

The other thing—this is for those who are a little older—is to pay attention to the mechanism: a kind of addiction that, on purpose, the apps on our phones put into our programs. They try to make us dependent on this technology. So, often, it would really help to set limits, to say: "After a certain hour, I won't look at my phone anymore," "At certain times, I'll chat with my family instead; we try to spend time together." So, I think these things will help us disconnect a little. We're not all attached to a cable, right? We're human beings. Living and developing this human dimension. And also the spiritual part of our life: seeking God in prayer, seeking God together, in the family, living a little more freely from this dependence on technology. Thank you.

Question from Michela: Dear Pope Leo, this year's theme for Summer Camp is "Around the World in 80 Days." It takes us on a journey of imagination, exploring many different worlds. You, who have traveled extensively in your life, visited countless far-flung places, and met so many different people, can you tell us a secret about your travels?

Pope Leo XIV: I'll tell you a little story, which ties in with the first question. As children, we all learned to read road maps. And if we had to go from here, from Rome to Naples, or from Rome to Tivoli, before we went, we studied: we looked at the map, we figured out which road, which was the best way to go... Today, we all put a GPS in our car or cell phone and go. So, several times in my life—it happened to me in Italy, in other European countries, in Peru, and once even in the United States—I put the GPS on and it took me down the wrong road, and I got stuck and couldn't reach my destination. This is why I say—also speaking about the first question—that it's important not to be too dependent on technology. It's much better to learn to think ourselves, to have the critical ability to know where we're going in life, on travel, whatever. Study well, use the ability God has given us! I don't need a cell phone if my brain works! Yes, it can help me, it can give me information, but it's also important to prepare well for travel.

I've learned this, because someone who's prepared, even when something happens, can always find a solution. Because God has given us a wonderful ability with our heads, with our brains. So, in general, I'd say this is something everyone needs.

The Holy Father is appointed Chief Explorer and is given the Explorer's kit and a Summer Camp plaque.

Pope Leo XIV: So there are still many more questions, but unfortunately I have to go somewhere else. But before I leave, I thought it would be wonderful if you could all tell your parents that you prayed with the Pope, because prayer is very important to us. We want Jesus to be here with us! We will pray together—you can stay in your seats—the prayer that Jesus taught us, with one voice.

“Our Father…”

Blessing.

Have a nice day! Best wishes!