Pope Leo’s address to Young People in Argentina November 10, 2026
Buenos Aires, Monument of the Spaniards
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Dear young people,
Let us listen to what Jesus says to us: “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled “ (Luke 12:49).
This fire is the fire of His love, communicated through the Holy Spirit.
It purifies our hearts and enables us to love.
Now, I would like to tell you about another fire: the fire of the furnace in Babylon.
The Book of Daniel tells us the story of three young men named Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael.
While living in exile in that land they learned a different language, received new names, and found a place in the kingdom’s administration.
They had a future ahead of them.
Then came the day when they had to decide whom they would serve.
King Nebuchadnezzar erected a huge golden image and ordered everyone to worship it. Anyone who refused was to be thrown into a burning furnace.
Imagine the scene:
A crowd of people bends over a huge statue, leaving only three young men remain standing. The king has given them one last chance.
All they had to do was make a single gesture to continue living peacefully.
They replied that God could save them from the fire, but added: “Even if He does not save us, we will not worship this image”. (Daniel 3:18). But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”),
How much freedom is expressed in this answer!
They did not know what would happen.
They knew the punishment that threatened them, but they also knew that they would only find happiness in God.
Book of Daniel 1:3-7
3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, handsome and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the king’s palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Book of Daniel 1:17-20
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanan′ah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.;
Book of Daniel 2:49
Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel remained at the king’s court.;
Book of Daniel 3:1-93 (full story – tells us the story of three young men: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael too long to print here).
Dear friends,
Even today, there are idols that demand our adoration: success at all costs, money, an obsession with appearance and popularity and the unbridled pursuit of pleasure.
In our quest for others’ approval, we may even lie, betray, or humiliate someone on social media.
Jealousy can prevent us from enjoying other’s well-being, and selfishness can cause us to treat people like objects.
Some people profit from providing pleasures that enslave us, such as pornography and various substances.
You are also called not to bow before the idols of our time.
Do not kneel before that which cannot give life!
If you have ever fallen, stand up!
Don’t let anything or anyone take away the freedom God has given you.
You are also called not to bow before the idols of our time.
Do not kneel before that which cannot give life.
If you have ever fallen, stand up!
Do not let anything or anyone to take away the freedom that God has given you.
During World Youth Day in Lisbon, Pope Francis spoke words that would travel around the world: “All, everyone, everyone”
(Address at the Welcome Ceremony, August 3, 2023 – see footnote below)
Pope Francis delivered these words with his signature firmness, as if to ensure they were not be overlooked.
I would like to refer to them when discussing the lives of Jesus’ disciples: all towards Christ, all with Christ, all like Christ.
First of all, all to Christ.
Some of you have grown close to Jesus, while others are just beginning to seek Him. Some of you have not prayed in a long time, have distanced yourselves from the church, or have been hurt by people who should have supported you.
I would like to tell everyone that there is a place for you in the church.
Bring your questions, your wounds, and your whole life story.
This is your home, too.
You don’t have to pretend that everything is in order or nor do you have to wait until you’ve gotten your life together to get closer.
To those of you who think it’s too late to start over, I say, “Welcome!”
No matter who you are or what you have done, Jesus Christ knows you and loves you. He wants you close to him.
This evening, I would like to say this to those who think they have gone too far as well as to those who have ever felt that there is no place for them in the Church.
The Lord is looking for you, too! Remember Zacchaeus.
He climbed a tree to see Jesus and discovered that Jesus was looking for him too.
Jesus called Zacchaeus by name and said he wanted to stay in his house.
This encounter inspired Zacchaeus to atone for his wrongdoings (see Luke 19:1-10).
No one is beyond the reach of Christ’s love and forgiveness.
May the doors of our communities always be open to welcome those who have questions, to help those who are suffering, and to accompany those who are seeking God patiently.
Now let’s go back to Babylon.
Three young men were tied up and thrown into a fiery furnace.
The flames burst forth with such force that they engulfed the executioners..
But the king saw something incomprehensible:
He had ordered three men to be thrown into the oven, yet now he saw four men walking freely among the flames.
The Lord had sent his angel to protect them.
They had been thrown in bound, yet now they walked free!
The king had sentenced them to be burned, but God had not forsaken them.
Here is our second “all”: all with Christ.
We know the full meaning of that event.
Because of sin, humanity has been under the dominion of death, but God came to meet us.
The Son of God became human, shared in our suffering, and took on our sins.
Out of love for us, he died on the cross and rose again on the third day.
Jesus Christ is alive! He has conquered death and freed us from its power!
Dear Young People,
Christ loves us and wants us to share in his life.
He promised his disciples that he would stay with them until the end of time (Matthew 28:20).
He offers us a life that not even death can take away!
One detail in this story moves me deeply.
From inside the furnace, Azariah raised a prayer: “Let the afflicted soul and the lowly spirit be pleased with you” (Daniel 3:39).
This young man defied the king yet acknowledged before God that he needed his mercy.
How beautiful this prayer is! We need it too.
We all know how great the disconnect can be between what we desire and our decisions. We all need conversion.
Christ loves us as we are, but his love is too great to leave us in bondage to sin and destruction. The fire that came to Earth has the power to break our bonds and restore our freedom to love. There are wounds that need healing, faults that must be confessed, and wrongs that must be righted wherever possible.
Let Christ transform you!
Do not be afraid to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
It is wonderful to know that our sins can be forgiven!
Pray, read the Gospel, and approach the Eucharist.
There, the One who gave his life for us awaits us.
The three young men began singing in the middle of the furnace.
They called on the heavens, the stars, the mountains, the rivers, and all living creatures to bless the Lord. They cried out, ” “Fire and embers, bless the Lord!” (Daniel 3:66).
They called on the surrounding fire itself to join their song of praise. Gradually, their song embraced the whole of creation. I like to think that this song still resounds, and that each generation can add its voice to it.
Wouldn’t it be beautiful if everything we did became an act of praise to God?
Perhaps today we could sing: Art and culture, bless the Lord! Games and sports, bless the Lord! Science and technology, bless the Lord! Networks and screens, bless the Lord! Music and football, bless the Lord! May all things bless the Lord with hymns forever!
At the beginning of the story, the king ordered everyone to worship his image.
By the end, the young men invited everyone to bless the Lord.
While the king resorted to threats to force people to bow down, the young men -who had only their faith – invited everyone to share in their joy.
Dear young people,
Those who have encountered Christ are called to live in his image
(1 John 2:6 – Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked).
This evening, I would like to invite you to do just that: – be holy!
The saints experienced their own weaknesses, too, but it was God’s grace that transformed their lives and taught them to love.
Jesus showed us the way with these words: “Love one another as I have loved you”.
There is an underlying image that we must never forget: Jesus kneeling to wash the feet of his disciples.
The Lord became the servant of all.
You, too, can wash the feet of your brothers and sisters.
Share bread with the hungry. Open your homes to the homeless.
Visit the sick and those whom no one else wants to visit.
There are also invisible sufferings. Someone may need advice or correction, words of consolation; or to feel loved.
The Lord gives us so many opportunities to be like him!
May your life be like the pages of the Gospel written in the ink of mercy so that others may see the love and joy of Jesus in you.
This joy comes from friendship with Jesus and pushes us to share him with others.
Remember the disciples on their way to Emmaus?
When they recognized the risen Christ at the breaking of the bread, they said to each other: “Did not our hearts burn within us when he spoke to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
That same night they returned to Jerusalem.
They could not keep to themselves the joy of knowing that Christ was alive.
At the beginning I told you: “Welcome, all of you! “.
As the successor of St. Peter, I entrust you with the second part of our motto: “Go and preach! “.
Go to your cities and villages, to every corner, and to the outskirt.
Help those who feel distant from God to discover through you that Christ is searching for them.
Soon, I will bless the cross that will travel through your communities.
As this cross is passed from hand to hand, may the fire of Christ’s love also pass from heart to heart.
May Our Lady of Luján accompany you and guide you on this path, leading you all toward Christ, with Christ, like Christ!
Go and preach!
______________________________________
POPE FRANCIS,
There is a Place for Everyone in the Church:
(Address at the Welcome Ceremony, August 3, 2023)
Friends, I want to be clear with you, because you hate falsehoods and empty words:
In the church, there is room for everyone. Everyone. No one is excluded.
There is room for everyone. Just the way we are. Everyone.
Jesus made this clearly.
When he sent the apostles to invite people to the banquet which a man had prepared,
he told them: “Go out and bring everyone in”, young and old, healthy and infirm, righteous and sinners.
“Father, I am a wretch, is there room for me? – There is room for everyone!
All together now, everyone, repeat with me in your own language:
Everyone, everyone, everyone. I can’t hear you: again! Everyone. Everyone. Everyone.
That is the church, the mother of all.
There is room for everyone.
The Lord does not point a finger, but opens his arms.
It is odd: the Lord does not know how to do this (pointing), but that (opening wide).
He embraces us all.
He shows us Jesus on the cross, who opened his arms wide in order to be crucified and die for us.