Videomessaggio del Santo Padre Leone XIV in occasione dell’ “Ankawa Youth Meeting” (Iraq)

Pubblichiamo di seguito il testo del Videomessaggio che il Santo Padre Leone XIV ha inviato in occasione dell’Ankawa Youth Meeting , che si svolge dall’ 8 all’11 luglio 2026 nell’Arcieparchia di Erbil, in Iraq:

Dear young friends,

It is a pleasure for me to greet all of you who are participating in the Ankawa Youth Meeting in the Archeparchy of Erbil. You have come from different parts of Iraq to gather in an atmosphere of faith and communion, and I pray that it will be an opportunity for all of you to grow in friendship with Jesus and with one another. Youth is a time of life marked by a desire to do great things and to make a difference in the world. In this regard, I am glad to know that the theme chosen for your meeting this year is mission. The Church has a vital mission to serve the world by sharing the light of Christ (cf. Jn 8:12) and bringing men and women into communion with God. You share in this mission, and I look to you to help shape the Church — and the world — in the years to come. As I have said before, young people are not only the future of the Church, but also the present.

It is not always easy to be a light in the world (cf. Mt 5:13). Indeed, at the present time, you are called to radiate this light in a situation that has often been marked by war and instability. The Lord has placed great trust in you in bestowing upon you this mission, and I too have great confidence in all of you. You must be Christ’s light in the midst of a darkness that can, at times, seem overwhelming. Do not be afraid! And do not think that you are alone in this task. I am with you; the Church is with you. Place your trust in Jesus; listen to him in prayer and through the guidance of others, and allow him to lead you.

Light is essential for life in a number of ways, and I would like to mention three that can help guide you in this mission. Firstly, light is necessary for seeing, which reminds us of the gift of faith. Faith in God is not a mechanism to cope with life’s difficulties. Rather, it is the recognition of reality and living in the truth, learning to see the world, others and ourselves as God does. It requires journeying through life with our hearts and our eyes fixed on our true homeland (cf. Heb 11:14), knowing that God is with us even though we cannot see him. The way you live must also bear witness to your faith, so that others can see in you the truth and the meaning that they too desire, and thus come to share in the same light.

The second aspect of light is that it provides warmth, which symbolizes love. In order to be light to the world, we must first share in the very light and life of Christ. To participate in mission, we must first discover a living relationship with God. We must get to know him. By opening ourselves to God’s transformative love, we receive the grace necessary to follow Jesus and embrace the life he calls us to lead. This is why it is so important to spend time each day in prayer, and to draw close to God through the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist. Ground your hearts in the solid foundation of God’s love for you; discover the heart of Christ, and do not be afraid to build your lives upon him (cf. 1 Jn 4:16). By doing so, not only will you find the fulfilment you long for, you will also be able to share the warmth of God’s love and the reconciling power of his grace with those around you.

Finally, light is necessary for growth and new life, and is an image of hope. Rooted in charity, you are particularly called to be peacemakers, to unite those around you, and to instill in others the hope of a future marked by lasting peace. You may not be able to control your situation or the challenges you will be asked to face, but you can always choose to allow the peace of Christ to rule in your hearts (cf. Col 3:15). The virtue of hope inspires us to look towards heaven. This does not mean forgetting about the world, but having the confidence to share with it the peace and life that comes from Christ, whose light illuminates the New Jerusalem (cf. Rev 21:23).

Dear young people, never doubt the goodness of God, and do not be afraid of the plan the Lord has for each of your lives. The prophet Jeremiah also had to face difficult moments, and he bears witness that the Lord’s plans are “for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jer 29:11). Entrusting each of you to the maternal protection and guidance of Mary, Mother of Church, I pray that during these days of spiritual renewal, you may discover in her the true example of a life fully given over to the grace of God.

And may Almighty God bless all of you, the ✠ Father, and the ✠ Son, and the ✠ Holy Spirit. Amen.