Pope Leo XIV addressed a global gathering of young digital missionaries and Catholic influencers at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
Newsroom (29/07/2025, Gaudium Press )In a powerful call to action, Pope Leo XIV addressed a global gathering of young digital missionaries and Catholic influencers at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. The Eucharistic celebration, part of the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, drew young Catholics from around the world to reflect on their role in shaping a digital culture rooted in Christian humanism.
Cardinal Tagle: Influence as a Double-Edged Sword
In his homily, Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, delved into the concept of “influence.” He described daily life as a “tapestry of crisscrossing influences,” shaped by family, communities, schools, and social environments. However, he warned that corrupted influences—such as false advertising, blackmail, or even violence—can distort individuals and societies. “As the earth and environment affect us, our activity affects the planet as well,” he noted, urging the faithful to examine the intentions behind their influence.
Drawing from the day’s Gospel, Cardinal Tagle presented Jesus as the ultimate influencer, whose love offers a model for countering “poisonous influences.” He challenged the pilgrims to let God’s love, embodied in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, guide their actions to foster good in human hearts and societies.
Pope Leo XIV: A Mission for Peace and Humanity
At the Mass’s conclusion, Pope Leo XIV addressed the assembly in Spanish, English, and Italian, delivering a heartfelt plea for peace in a world “torn apart by enmity and war.” He emphasized that proclaiming peace is a core mission of the Church and its digital missionaries. “Peace needs to be sought, proclaimed, and shared everywhere,” he said, particularly in war-torn regions and among those who have lost a sense of purpose.
The Pope underscored the unique role of digital missionaries in spreading this message globally. He urged them to seek the “suffering flesh of Christ” in every person they encounter online, ensuring that technology serves to uphold human dignity rather than undermine it. “It is up to each one of you to ensure that this culture remains human,” he declared, advocating for a “Christian humanism” that resists the dehumanizing potential of technology.
Mending Nets of Friendship
Pope Leo called on the young influencers to go beyond creating content and instead foster authentic encounters that mend “nets of relationships, of love, of free exchange.” He envisioned a digital landscape where no “filter bubble” silences the weakest voices, creating a unified “network of God” grounded in friendship and solidarity.
In closing, the Pope expressed gratitude to the young missionaries for their efforts and encouraged them to continue their work with courage, using digital platforms to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The Jubilee Mass served as a reminder of the Church’s enduring mission to adapt to changing times while remaining steadfast in its call to love, peace, and human dignity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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