Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholic schools and universities to create welcoming environments where young people feel valued, supported and loved, saying that such care can help them become builders of a more peaceful and just society.
Addressing participants in the International Congress for Pastoral Care in Schools and Universities at the Vatican on Thursday, the Pope stressed that young people need trust and encouragement to overcome their fears and recognise their abilities. He urged Catholic educational institutions to help them develop a new way of living in the world based on fraternity, responsibility and concern for others.
The congress, organised by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, is taking place at the Vatican from October 22 to 23. It brings attention to the role of pastoral care in supporting young people through their educational and personal journeys.
Pope Leo observed that many teenagers hide their vulnerability behind emotional barriers, even though they long to love and be loved. He said courage often develops when someone believes in a young person before that person learns to believe in themselves.
To explain the importance of trust, he recalled how Jesus chose the 12 Apostles. Their selection was not based on their courage, but on His call and the confidence He placed in them, which helped them become capable of fulfilling their mission.
The Pope said this message was particularly important in a culture that places strong emphasis on performance, comparison and competition. He warned that an excessive focus on measuring people's achievements can discourage young people and make them feel that they are not good enough.
Many young people, he noted, are held back by the fear of making mistakes, being misunderstood or failing to meet the expectations of others. Some become discouraged even before attempting something because they doubt their own abilities.
He also cautioned against misleading messages that promise quick answers to the questions young people face. In this situation, Catholic educational institutions have an important responsibility to offer guidance, understanding and opportunities for personal growth.
Pope Leo said Catholic schools and universities should first be places where students feel at home. Young people should know that they are welcome, that their presence matters and that someone will notice when they are absent and be glad when they return.
He warned that some students pass through school and university life feeling unnoticed or anonymous. While many demonstrate enthusiasm, generosity and a willingness to serve, others face serious personal struggles.
These difficulties may include problems within their families, loneliness linked to digital life, feelings of inadequacy and anxiety about an uncertain future. The Pope encouraged educators and pastoral workers to recognise these experiences and provide an environment in which students can speak openly, feel accepted and find direction.
He also emphasised the importance of intellectual development and the search for truth. Those working in Catholic institutions should encourage young people to think critically, develop their understanding and discover the relationship between faith and reason.
Pastoral care in schools and universities, he explained, should accompany students patiently as their ideas and understanding develop. Educators must help them learn to make sound judgements, ask meaningful questions and continue searching for truth with perseverance.
The Pope further highlighted the need to educate young people's hearts alongside their minds. He said compassion, gratitude and sensitivity to the suffering of others should be central to their formation, together with praise and a desire for God.
He identified service to people living in poverty, volunteering and care for creation as important ways for young people to develop a deeper concern for others. These activities, he stressed, should not be treated as optional additions to education, but as meaningful opportunities to grow in humanity and generosity.
He also underlined the connection between charity and prayer, encouraging those involved in Catholic education to help young people develop both their spiritual lives and their commitment to serving others.
Pope Leo concluded by encouraging participants to remain committed to accompanying young people until they recognise and develop the gifts they have received from God. Through trust, a sense of belonging and an education that forms both the mind and the heart, Catholic schools and universities can help prepare a generation capable of building a more caring, peaceful and just world.