Pope Leo XIV Urges Young Catholics to Choose Solidarity at Paris Stadium

Pope Leo XIV met with thousands of young Catholics at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening, in an encounter centred on solidarity, social responsibility and the place of faith in a rapidly changing world.

Addressing the crowd, the pontiff thanked those present for their commitment and their belief, telling them: "Thank you for your courage, thank you for your presence, thank you for your faith, you're the saints of France."

The evening included an exchange with two young Catholics, who put questions to the Pope. In his responses, Leo XIV warned against indifference towards others, saying that many people show no concern for their neighbours, lead selfish lives and look down on the poor while spending their wealth on trivial things. He added that others reject the weak and the infirm, treating a person's worth as though it depended only on what they produce.

In a separate address, the Pope thanked a young man named Francois for his commitment and said it gave him great joy to see so many young people driven by a desire to serve the cause of peace. That peace, he said, helps people grow by turning fears into hope and complaints into responsibility.

Leo XIV described the mission as more urgent than ever, calling on young Catholics to navigate current technological and digital changes with discernment and without diminishing their humanity.

The gathering at the iconic stadium featured choreography and fireworks, which the Pope watched, along with crowds waving to him as he entered and moved among those present.