Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on young members of the Mediterranean Youth Council to take up their role as “signs of hope” in a troubled world, urging them to use their creativity and courage to build peace and unity across cultures.
Addressing the Council on Friday at the Vatican, the Pope praised the initiative as both “a project and a sign,” reminding the young delegates that their presence demonstrates that dialogue is not only possible, but fruitful. “You are proof that differences enrich us, that others are never strangers or enemies, but brothers and sisters,” he said.
The Mediterranean Youth Council, made up of representatives from nations along the sea’s shores, was created to provide young people a platform to shape dialogue with civil leaders and foster initiatives for the common good. Pope Leo stressed that the Council’s mission goes beyond discussions, calling it a mandate to “restore broken relationships, rebuild what violence has destroyed, and bring life to places of despair.”
The Pope highlighted that their very generation embodies hope by refusing to remain passive. “You are not content to accept the world as it is or to wait for others to act,” he told them. “Instead, you imagine a better tomorrow and commit yourselves to making it real.”
In his message, Pope Leo encouraged the young leaders to be heralds of the Gospel, drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean’s role as the cradle of early Christian mission. He warned against the distortion of religious heritage by those who use faith as a justification for violence, calling such manipulation a “blasphemy.”
“For believers, the future is one of mutual acceptance,” he said, insisting that the region’s rich spiritual traditions must be safeguarded as bridges of understanding rather than barriers of conflict.
The Pope urged the Council members to embrace prayer and spirituality alongside concrete action, describing both as essential sources of reconciliation and cultural encounter. “Do not be afraid,” he appealed. “Sow the seeds of peace, build patiently the bonds of unity, give voice to the voiceless, and bring light where faith flickers and hope grows dim.”
As the Mediterranean Youth Council continues its work, Pope Leo XIV’s words framed their mission as not only a call to leadership but also a spiritual commitment: to embody hope, promote dialogue, and be the generation that chooses peace over division.