Pope Leo XIV Tells Youth to Trust in Jesus "Trust in him as in a true friend, who knows you, loves you, and never abandons you" FULL TEXT
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At 5:45 PM, the Holy Father Leo XIV left the Apostolic Nunciature and traveled by car to the National Stadium in Lima for the Prayer Vigil with Young People and University Students at 5:55 PM. Around 60,000 young people were present inside the stadium, while authorities estimated another 300,000 people were present in the surrounding areas.Upon his arrival, after a tour in an open car among the faithful, the Pope was welcomed by the Archbishop of Lima, His Eminence Cardinal Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio, and together they took their places on the stage. After words of welcome from the Cardinal Archbishop of Lima, testimonies from a dancer and a youth ministry coordinator, a stage performance, and the testimony of a nun, the Holy Father delivered his address. The Vigil concluded with the Prayer of Light, the commitment to peace, the Our Father, the blessing, and a final song.
PRAYER VIGIL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV
National Stadium of Peru (Lima) - Thursday, November 12, 2026
___________________________________
Good evening Lima! Callao! Carabayllo! And those from LurÃn and Chosica! Good evening to all. Someone told me that Peru needs a sign of hope; well, here today at the National Stadium, you are that sign of hope.
What a joy to be with you all! Thank you for such a warm welcome. I appreciate Cardinal Castillo's words and the questions the young people have asked me, as well as the sincerity with which Joao, Emily, and Sister Luzbinda have opened their hearts to us. What you have shared gives me the opportunity to share with you a scene from the Gospel of John.
One day, John the Baptist was with two of his disciples when he saw Jesus passing by. Pointing to him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (1:36). Hearing this, the two began to walk behind him. The Lord, noticing that they were following him, looked at them and asked, “What are you looking for?” (v. 38). What a beautiful question! These are the first words of Jesus that appear in this Gospel. I would like each of you to listen to that question as if Jesus were asking it to you today: What are you looking for? What do you long to find? What do you expect from life?
Don't rush to answer. Some questions stay with us for a long time. Think about what excites you most, the people you love, and the dreams you'd be willing to fight for. Think also about those worries that sometimes keep you awake at night and what you'd like to change. Jesus cares about all of this because he cares about you.
There is a word that can help us understand this search: passion . We use it to talk about what we love intensely, what awakens our enthusiasm and moves us to give the best of ourselves. But it also reminds us of suffering, of experiences that seem to extinguish our desire to keep going. There are young people who feel alone, even when surrounded by others. Others carry the pain of loss or the uncertainty about their future. Sometimes we wonder why God allows certain things or why He seems to remain silent when we need Him most.
Let us recall, then, how John the Baptist introduced Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Those disciples could not yet grasp what that name proclaimed. Later, they would discover its meaning in the light of the Lord’s Passion , in which he gave his life on the cross. Jesus, too, knew the anguish and darkness of suffering. From the cross, he cried out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ( Mark 15:34). Christ, in the midst of that suffering, continued to love. He did not desire the cross; he desired our salvation: out of love for us, he accepted to bear it to the very end. Thus, that instrument of death became, through his self-giving, the place where his passionate love, capable of conquering death, was revealed.
Dear young people, when you suffer, turn to Jesus. Don't be afraid to speak to him honestly, even when you struggle to find the words to pray. He knows our tears and the questions we don't yet know how to answer. Seek the company of those who love you: some sorrows need time and a helping hand. Faith sustains us on this path and reminds us that suffering never has the last word. Be passionate about everything that is worthwhile, about what is true, good, and beautiful! Cultivate your talents, discover the richness of your culture, and dare to undertake generous projects. Pope Francis reminded us that this "unsatisfied restlessness" can impel us to take life into our own hands and become responsible for a mission (cf. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit , 138). Don't settle for living according to what others expect of you. God has created you capable of doing good that no one else can do in exactly the same way.
Let us return now to the two disciples. To Jesus' question, they replied, "Rabbi, where do you live?" And he said to them, "Come and see" ( Jn 1:38-39). What a simple answer! Those men wanted to know Jesus, to share something of his life. The Lord did not explain to them beforehand everything that awaited them. To begin, it was enough to accept that invitation. This is also how vocation begins , the second word I would like to share with you. We all ask ourselves what to do with our lives and to whom it is worthwhile to give our best. There are answers that we only discover when we dare to walk with Jesus. Saint Paul reminds us that God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world (cf. Eph 1:4). Before we existed, we were already loved by him!
Sometimes we wonder if following God's will means giving up our dreams. From this fear can arise an even more dangerous suspicion: believing that God deprives us of something and that, to fully enjoy life, we also need to experience sin (cf. Gen 3:5). Dear friends, I would like you to engrave on your hearts those words of Pope Benedict XVI : "Evil always poisons" ( Homily, December 8, 2005 ). Do not be deceived! How could something that harms us bring us happiness? God knows our deepest desires, even better than we do ourselves. He has placed within us the desire to love and be happy, and He wants to bring it to its fullness.
As with the first disciples, it often begins with a simple invitation: one from a friend, an experience of service, or an encounter with someone whose life makes us question what truly matters. The stories we have heard this afternoon also began with an invitation. The important thing is to learn to recognize the Lord's voice. Therefore, dear young people, set aside moments of silence before the Blessed Sacrament to encounter Him. Speak to Him about your plans and allow yourselves to be challenged by His Word. Do not be afraid to ask Him what He expects of you. Some He will call to the priesthood or consecrated life; others, He will call to marriage and to start a family. All are called to put their abilities at the service of others.
Perhaps some of you think you've made too many mistakes or that it's too late to start over. And I would like to tell you: look to Jesus. He knows your story and continues to invite you to walk with Him. You don't need to have your entire future figured out to respond to Him. Take the step you can take today. Trust in His love and allow Him to accompany you. Many times the Lord shows us the way as we walk it.
The Gospel continues with a precious detail: those disciples “stayed with him that day” ( Jn 1:39). Saint John even recalls the time: it was about four in the afternoon. That encounter had left a mark that the passage of years could not erase. They stayed with Jesus! Thus began a relationship that would grow as they shared the journey. And so we come to the third word I would like to share with you: friendship . Our vocation also grows when we learn to remain with the Lord, to listen to him, and to share our joys and concerns with him. In time, those disciples would discover the extent of his love. During the Last Supper, Jesus would say to them, “I have called you friends” (15:15). And that same night he would utter words that would be fulfilled on the afternoon of Good Friday: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (v. 13).
That is the Friend who calls you! Cultivate that friendship in prayer, in the Eucharist, and in listening to His Word. The more we learn to love Jesus, the more capable we are of loving as He loves. From our friendship with Christ also springs a truer friendship with others, one that sincerely seeks their good, knows how to forgive, and remains faithful, especially in times of difficulty. How wonderful it is to find friends who help us grow and draw us closer to God!
The Church is born and thrives on this friendship with Christ. In it, we find brothers and sisters who help us move forward. We all need someone to listen to us, to encourage us when we lack strength, or simply to remain by our side. Therefore, don't think you always have to appear strong, especially those who coordinate groups or accompany others. Allow yourselves to be cared for. Remember that Jesus, too, in Gethsemane, wanted his friends close by in his hour of anguish (cf. Mt 26:38). Don't be afraid to confide your sorrows to them and seek in them the support you need.
There is one last detail from the Gospel I would like to mention. After that encounter, Andrew went to find his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” ( John 1:41), and he took him to meet Jesus. Do the same! Think especially of those going through difficult times. A gesture of friendship can change the course of a life. Don't be afraid to speak about Jesus and to show through your lives how much good his friendship does for you.
Dear young people, listen to Jesus' invitation and dare to follow him. I would like to repeat to you today that the Lord "takes nothing away and gives everything" ( Benedict XVI , Homily at the Mass for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry, April 24, 2005 ). Trust in Christ! Trust in him as in a true friend, who knows you, loves you, and never abandons you. This trust will make your friendship with him grow stronger each day. Let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Peruvian saints, to increase this trust each day, to help us live our vocation with passion, and to always remain in his friendship . Let us then say together a simple prayer that will help us to trust Jesus more each day. I invite you to repeat with me:
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come into my heart,
come into my family,
come into my community.
Come soon into my life!
Come soon, Lord!
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV
National Stadium of Peru (Lima) - Thursday, November 12, 2026
___________________________________
Good evening Lima! Callao! Carabayllo! And those from LurÃn and Chosica! Good evening to all. Someone told me that Peru needs a sign of hope; well, here today at the National Stadium, you are that sign of hope.
What a joy to be with you all! Thank you for such a warm welcome. I appreciate Cardinal Castillo's words and the questions the young people have asked me, as well as the sincerity with which Joao, Emily, and Sister Luzbinda have opened their hearts to us. What you have shared gives me the opportunity to share with you a scene from the Gospel of John.
One day, John the Baptist was with two of his disciples when he saw Jesus passing by. Pointing to him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (1:36). Hearing this, the two began to walk behind him. The Lord, noticing that they were following him, looked at them and asked, “What are you looking for?” (v. 38). What a beautiful question! These are the first words of Jesus that appear in this Gospel. I would like each of you to listen to that question as if Jesus were asking it to you today: What are you looking for? What do you long to find? What do you expect from life?
Don't rush to answer. Some questions stay with us for a long time. Think about what excites you most, the people you love, and the dreams you'd be willing to fight for. Think also about those worries that sometimes keep you awake at night and what you'd like to change. Jesus cares about all of this because he cares about you.
There is a word that can help us understand this search: passion . We use it to talk about what we love intensely, what awakens our enthusiasm and moves us to give the best of ourselves. But it also reminds us of suffering, of experiences that seem to extinguish our desire to keep going. There are young people who feel alone, even when surrounded by others. Others carry the pain of loss or the uncertainty about their future. Sometimes we wonder why God allows certain things or why He seems to remain silent when we need Him most.
Let us recall, then, how John the Baptist introduced Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Those disciples could not yet grasp what that name proclaimed. Later, they would discover its meaning in the light of the Lord’s Passion , in which he gave his life on the cross. Jesus, too, knew the anguish and darkness of suffering. From the cross, he cried out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ( Mark 15:34). Christ, in the midst of that suffering, continued to love. He did not desire the cross; he desired our salvation: out of love for us, he accepted to bear it to the very end. Thus, that instrument of death became, through his self-giving, the place where his passionate love, capable of conquering death, was revealed.
Dear young people, when you suffer, turn to Jesus. Don't be afraid to speak to him honestly, even when you struggle to find the words to pray. He knows our tears and the questions we don't yet know how to answer. Seek the company of those who love you: some sorrows need time and a helping hand. Faith sustains us on this path and reminds us that suffering never has the last word. Be passionate about everything that is worthwhile, about what is true, good, and beautiful! Cultivate your talents, discover the richness of your culture, and dare to undertake generous projects. Pope Francis reminded us that this "unsatisfied restlessness" can impel us to take life into our own hands and become responsible for a mission (cf. Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit , 138). Don't settle for living according to what others expect of you. God has created you capable of doing good that no one else can do in exactly the same way.
Let us return now to the two disciples. To Jesus' question, they replied, "Rabbi, where do you live?" And he said to them, "Come and see" ( Jn 1:38-39). What a simple answer! Those men wanted to know Jesus, to share something of his life. The Lord did not explain to them beforehand everything that awaited them. To begin, it was enough to accept that invitation. This is also how vocation begins , the second word I would like to share with you. We all ask ourselves what to do with our lives and to whom it is worthwhile to give our best. There are answers that we only discover when we dare to walk with Jesus. Saint Paul reminds us that God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world (cf. Eph 1:4). Before we existed, we were already loved by him!
Sometimes we wonder if following God's will means giving up our dreams. From this fear can arise an even more dangerous suspicion: believing that God deprives us of something and that, to fully enjoy life, we also need to experience sin (cf. Gen 3:5). Dear friends, I would like you to engrave on your hearts those words of Pope Benedict XVI : "Evil always poisons" ( Homily, December 8, 2005 ). Do not be deceived! How could something that harms us bring us happiness? God knows our deepest desires, even better than we do ourselves. He has placed within us the desire to love and be happy, and He wants to bring it to its fullness.
As with the first disciples, it often begins with a simple invitation: one from a friend, an experience of service, or an encounter with someone whose life makes us question what truly matters. The stories we have heard this afternoon also began with an invitation. The important thing is to learn to recognize the Lord's voice. Therefore, dear young people, set aside moments of silence before the Blessed Sacrament to encounter Him. Speak to Him about your plans and allow yourselves to be challenged by His Word. Do not be afraid to ask Him what He expects of you. Some He will call to the priesthood or consecrated life; others, He will call to marriage and to start a family. All are called to put their abilities at the service of others.
Perhaps some of you think you've made too many mistakes or that it's too late to start over. And I would like to tell you: look to Jesus. He knows your story and continues to invite you to walk with Him. You don't need to have your entire future figured out to respond to Him. Take the step you can take today. Trust in His love and allow Him to accompany you. Many times the Lord shows us the way as we walk it.
The Gospel continues with a precious detail: those disciples “stayed with him that day” ( Jn 1:39). Saint John even recalls the time: it was about four in the afternoon. That encounter had left a mark that the passage of years could not erase. They stayed with Jesus! Thus began a relationship that would grow as they shared the journey. And so we come to the third word I would like to share with you: friendship . Our vocation also grows when we learn to remain with the Lord, to listen to him, and to share our joys and concerns with him. In time, those disciples would discover the extent of his love. During the Last Supper, Jesus would say to them, “I have called you friends” (15:15). And that same night he would utter words that would be fulfilled on the afternoon of Good Friday: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (v. 13).
That is the Friend who calls you! Cultivate that friendship in prayer, in the Eucharist, and in listening to His Word. The more we learn to love Jesus, the more capable we are of loving as He loves. From our friendship with Christ also springs a truer friendship with others, one that sincerely seeks their good, knows how to forgive, and remains faithful, especially in times of difficulty. How wonderful it is to find friends who help us grow and draw us closer to God!
The Church is born and thrives on this friendship with Christ. In it, we find brothers and sisters who help us move forward. We all need someone to listen to us, to encourage us when we lack strength, or simply to remain by our side. Therefore, don't think you always have to appear strong, especially those who coordinate groups or accompany others. Allow yourselves to be cared for. Remember that Jesus, too, in Gethsemane, wanted his friends close by in his hour of anguish (cf. Mt 26:38). Don't be afraid to confide your sorrows to them and seek in them the support you need.
There is one last detail from the Gospel I would like to mention. After that encounter, Andrew went to find his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” ( John 1:41), and he took him to meet Jesus. Do the same! Think especially of those going through difficult times. A gesture of friendship can change the course of a life. Don't be afraid to speak about Jesus and to show through your lives how much good his friendship does for you.
Dear young people, listen to Jesus' invitation and dare to follow him. I would like to repeat to you today that the Lord "takes nothing away and gives everything" ( Benedict XVI , Homily at the Mass for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry, April 24, 2005 ). Trust in Christ! Trust in him as in a true friend, who knows you, loves you, and never abandons you. This trust will make your friendship with him grow stronger each day. Let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the Peruvian saints, to increase this trust each day, to help us live our vocation with passion, and to always remain in his friendship . Let us then say together a simple prayer that will help us to trust Jesus more each day. I invite you to repeat with me:
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Come into my heart,
come into my family,
come into my community.
Come soon into my life!
Come soon, Lord!
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