Quoting St. Augustine, Pope Leo adds, “Live well and the times will be good. We are the times. Exactly so—the times will be good if we are good!”
Newsroom (27/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In the September issue of Piazza San Pietro, the magazine published by St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV responds with warmth and wisdom to a letter from Veronica, a 21-year-old medical student from Rome. The correspondence section, a staple of the publication, features the Pontiff addressing the young woman’s aspirations and her concerns about global conflict.
Veronica, who dreams of becoming a doctor to “help people heal from their illnesses,” expressed unease about the state of the world. “It almost seems impossible to live in peace. What future awaits us? Can we hope for a better world? And what can we young people do to make that happen?” she wrote.
A Message of Hope Amid Difficult Times
In a heartfelt reply, Pope Leo acknowledges the challenges of the current era while offering a message of hope and encouragement. “Dear Veronica, first of all, I sincerely wish that you may fulfil your dream. The profession you aspire to is among the noblest, especially if lived as service to the weakest and most unfortunate,” he writes. “Your questions are the ones that many of your peers hold in their hearts.”
The Pope recognizes the weight of global turmoil, noting, “We are living in difficult times,” but he urges resilience. “Evil seems to overwhelm our lives. Wars are taking more and more innocent victims,” he writes, yet emphasizes that hope must endure. Quoting St. Augustine, he adds, “Live well and the times will be good. We are the times. Exactly so—the times will be good if we are good!”
A Call to Faith and Action
Pope Leo encourages Veronica to ground her aspirations in faith, stating, “For this to happen, we must place our hope in the Lord Jesus. It is He who has awakened in your heart the desire to make something great out of your life. It is He who will give you the strength to improve yourself and the society around you, so that the times we live in will truly be good times.”
Closing on a personal note, the Pontiff invites Veronica to deepen her spiritual life: “Cultivate your friendship with Jesus. It’s worth it. Be sure of that.” He also expresses a desire to stay connected, writing, “Keep me updated on your studies and your inner journey. I bless you from my heart.”
The exchange, published in Piazza San Pietro, reflects Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral approach, blending empathy with a call to faith and action, offering guidance to a generation grappling with uncertainty.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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