Pope Leo at Jubilee Mass: Let Social Media Heal Hearts, Not Harden Them

Pope Leo at Jubilee Mass: Let Social Media Heal Hearts, Not Harden Them

Vatican City: In a momentous celebration inside the grand St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered a heartfelt appeal to digital missionaries and Catholic influencers, urging them to become architects of human connection in an age increasingly shaped by screens and algorithms.

The Mass marked the conclusion of the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, drawing hundreds of young content creators from around the world. The liturgy was led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who offered a soul-searching homily centered on the word "influence" a term both sacred and secular in today's media ecosystem.

Cardinal Tagle reflected on how human beings are both transmitters and receivers of influence in every facet of daily life. “Life is a woven fabric of influences from families to schools, from digital feeds to societal norms,” he noted. But when these sources are distorted by greed, manipulation, or malice, they alter the moral compass of individuals and communities.

The Cardinal challenged the attendees to examine the intentions behind their digital footprints. “We must ask: is our influence driven by love and truth, or by control, deception, and fear?” he said, drawing a sharp contrast between social influence rooted in genuine connection versus those stemming from coercion, misinformation, or violence.

Referring to the day's Gospel reading, Cardinal Tagle declared that God didn't send a memo or a trending hashtag He sent His Son. “Jesus is not a passive influencer; He transforms us with love,” the Cardinal preached. He implored the young missionaries to let the Holy Spirit be their algorithm, directing them away from toxic trends and toward the eternal values of mercy, justice, and humility.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Pope Leo XIV personally addressed the crowd in Spanish, English, and Italian, echoing the call for digital apostleship. In a world marred by conflict and polarization, the Pope stressed the urgent need for peace both in warzones and within restless hearts that have lost meaning.

“The mission of peace belongs not just to the Church, but to you,” he told the gathered influencers. “Peace must be proclaimed in reels and retweets, in comments and captions in every language of the heart.”

Pope Leo warned against letting technology dehumanize relationships, urging content creators to remain deeply rooted in Christian humanism. “No innovation however brilliant should strip away the dignity of another human being,” he emphasized.

Taking a metaphor from Christ’s first apostles, Pope Leo urged the participants to become “menders of nets” nets of friendship, understanding, and truth. In a world of digital silos and echo chambers, he called on influencers to break filter bubbles and make room for the silenced, the hurting, and the unseen.

“You are not just creators of content,” he said. “You are creators of encounters between hearts. Stitch together a web that connects humanity to God.”

The Pope concluded with a powerful blessing, thanking the young digital missionaries for their courage to evangelize in the virtual frontiers. “Go forth across timelines and territories, in hashtags and hyperlinks,” he encouraged. “Let your mission be one of healing, humility, and holy influence.”

As the basilica echoed with final hymns, it was clear that the Church is not merely watching the digital age it is stepping boldly into it, guided by the call to be both salt of the earth and light of the screen.


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