NCYC 2025
Editor's Note: Like young Church, may we remember Christ will ‘always welcome you home’
National Catholic Youth Conference participants from the Diocese of Charleston, S.C., kneel in prayer during the event’s closing Mass on Nov. 22 in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)
Pope Leo XIV had a simple yet profound message for the 16,000 youths who attended the National Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis on Nov. 20-22, telling them, “You are not only the future of the Church, you are the present.”
He added, “Your voices, your ideas, your faith matter right now, and the Church needs you. The Church needs what you have been given to share with all of us.”
The Holy Father’s nearly hourlong virtual dialogue on Nov. 21 was the highlight of this year’s pilgrimage of faith, which featured teenagers ages 14-18 and youth ministers, chaperones, clergy, religious, speakers and volunteers. The questions from five teenagers to the pope touched on themes of technology use, artificial intelligence, forgiveness, hope and the Church’s future.
Elise Wing was one of the five teenagers who shared a question with Pope Leo, a moment filled with history and hope for her.
“Walking up on that stage felt like history. It really did,” said Elise, who is from the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Iowa. “And I am just so honored and blessed—I mean, the pope said our names.”
The theme of the conference “I am/Yo Soy,” in English and Spanish, was repeated several times during the gathering, including at the opening Mass on Nov. 20 that Archbishop Charles C. Thompson celebrated for the 1,550 archdiocesan youths who attended NCYC.
“Every time I say, ‘Are you ready,’ I want you to respond, ‘I am,’ ” he explained in his homily at the Mass celebrated in the Indiana Convention Center. “And when I say, ‘Estás listo,’ you respond, ‘Yo soy.’ ”
The stories and photos featured on pages 1B-12B in this week’s issue of The Criterion share examples of a young Church that, we pray, moves forward in following the advice and words of wisdom Pope Leo shared with them.
But no matter your age, each of us would do well to remember much of what the Holy Father shared, including allowing Jesus to pick us up when we stumble in living out our vocations.
“It can be discouraging when we fall, but do not focus on all your sins. Look to Jesus,” the pope said. “Trust his mercy and go to him with confidence. He will always welcome you home.”
—Mike Krokos, editor
See more stories from the National Catholic Youth Conference here
