Pope Leo XIV strongly urged young people in Buenos Aires to remain steadfast in the face of modern idols during a meeting with the youth. He warned about phenomena such as the pursuit of success at any cost, materialism, obsession with appearance, the desire for popularity, or endless search for pleasure.
The high pontiff stated that idols continue to demand worship even today, also mentioning pornography and various substances. These words were spoken by the Pope before a huge crowd exceeding one million people, according to local authorities.
The Pope addressed the attendees with the call: 'Do not bow down to what cannot give you life! And if you fall, get up!' His speech was marked by an encouraging rather than moralizing tone.
Approximately one million young people participated in the night vigil at the Los Espangoles Monument, which was overcrowded for the event, located at the intersection of major avenues in Buenos Aires.
On the last night of his visit to Argentina, the Pope raised the topic of social media, warning that people might resort to deceit, betrayal, or humiliating others for the sake of approval from others.
Prior to this, the Pope listened to testimonies from young people, including a touching story from Agustín, who is 25 years old. He shared his experience of being bullied at a private school because he could not afford the same shoes or clothes as his peers. Agustín recounted how he eventually turned to alcohol and drugs with older people to avoid feeling lonely or insignificant, before receiving a long embrace from the Pope.
Leo XIV also noted the decline in faith in Argentina, especially among young people. According to a recent study by the University of Buenos Aires, only 44.6% of people aged 16 to 29 consider themselves Catholics, compared to 57.7% of the entire population.
The Pope acknowledged that many young people 'have not prayed for a long time' and 'have distanced themselves from the Church.' However, he assured them: 'It does not matter who you are or what you have done (...) in the Church there is a place for you! With your questions, your wounds, and your story.'
To entertain the crowd, artists, choirs, and choreographic performances took turns on stage, alternating with young people who spoke into microphones, sharing their experiences and encounters with faith.
Benjamín Puerrredon, an 18-year-old student, shared with the crowd the observation that 'one of the big problems we have (...) is the lack of gratitude.' He added that it seems to him that sometimes we do not notice everything we have, and thanks to social media, we constantly strive to be better and have more. But, in his opinion, sometimes it is necessary to stop and be thankful.
Today, the Pope concludes the Argentine leg of his tour of South America, which already included Uruguay and will continue in Peru, where he lived for 20 years as a missionary and bishop. The trip will conclude with a visit to a prison and a newly opened mass at a pilgrimage site.
At 71 years old, Leo XIV is undertaking an ambitious 12-day journey through Latin America, which is his first trip after surgery he underwent four weeks ago.
Historically, the health status of Popes has always been a sensitive topic in the media, although over time this topic has become gradually more open. In 2023, his predecessor Benedict XVI, the penultimate one before him, resigned from the papacy, surprising everyone by stating a decline in his physical and mental strength.
