What does it mean for young Catholics to have a pope of our own?

This month’s conclave was the first in the adult lives of Catholics under 30, and will shape the Church for this generation.

Welcome to the papal apartments
Wyatt Olivas

“Peace be with you.” These words rang out through the speakers in St Peter’s Square on 8 May. These words from Pope Leo were not just for the people in the square – they were for the whole world. I think those first words were exactly what we needed to hear.

My heart was nervous in the days leading up to the conclave. I have no clue why – it’s not like I had a vote! But I think the pressure from social media trying to tell us who we should want as pope really shook me.

Still, I urge people to let go of that feeling and trust in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knew who was going to be pope, and now we have him. It’s time to let the Lord continue to lead.

I hope to see Pope Leo continue to call on young people to lead in the Church. I hope he encourages the Church to take a chance on them. And I hope that together, we can keep moving forward on this synodal mission.

Wyatt Olivas is a student at the University of Wyoming. He was the youngest delegate at the Rome assemblies of the Synod on Synodality in 2023 and 2024.

Huddled round a phone screen
Maria Teresa Madison

As young people, we’ve spent most of our lives with Pope Francis, so naturally the conclave felt like a momentous occasion. What really struck me about the day of the result was the sense of excitement and community: a group of us were huddled around a phone screen waiting for the new pope to be announced, and the joyful anticipation was palpable.

I admire Pope Leo’s continuation of Pope Francis’ legacy in his commitment to social justice and climate change. I am also hopeful that, as an American himself, he will serve as a voice of peace and reason amid the troubles of current US politics.

Maria Teresa Madison reads Classics at Clare College, Cambridge and is her college’s representative for the university chaplaincy, Fisher House.

Empower the young
Sarah Kirikumwino

As young Catholics, we’re grateful for the Church’s platform to express ourselves, share joy, and spread love. We appreciate the Church’s leadership in addressing obstacles and promoting peace, justice, and family values. Given our generation’s size and energy, we believe we can make a significant impact.

We’re passionate about tackling global issues, particularly climate change, which affects lives, lands, health and development. We urge Pope Leo XIV to prioritise climate action, peacebuilding, and social justice, supporting initiatives that promote sustainability, compassion, and human dignity.

We expect the Pope to empower young people to take action, nurture family bonds, and promote a culture of care and mercy. By working together, we can build a better future for all, reflecting God’s love and grace. We look forward to contributing to the Church’s mission, inspired by faith, guided by values, and driven by a commitment to the well being of all, especially the most vulnerable.

Sarah Kirikumwino is a Ugandan youth climate action leader. She attended the 2024 Youth Adaptation Forum for Africa organised by the Global Centre on Adaptation.

‘He’s my cardinal!’
Maria Toone

The election of a new pope is a great historical event, one which has captivated the world’s media. As the Pope walked out on to the balcony, my family and I were incredibly excited. When his name was announced, my sister exclaimed, “He’s my cardinal!”

If you too have been spammed with Catholic content on WhatsApp groups over this past month, you may have come across the website prayforacardinal.com. In our family, we had all been randomly allocated a cardinal through this platform and my sister was lucky (or “blessed”) to be allocated the future Pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost!

We were delighted and surprised because when my sister had suggested that she thought he was a contender, I had responded that it was unlikely we’d have an American pope. I was proved wrong!

His opening address was beautiful: a message of peace, love and unity. It was this final point that struck me most. In a time where many, including myself, have been deeply saddened by polarisation and division in the world and even in the Church, to have a leader emphasise this brought me great joy. I was delighted by his chosen motto In Illo uno unum – “In the One, we are one”, the words of St Augustine. May Pope Leo XIV lead the Church in remaining one in the Lord.

Maria Toone is a recent graduate and an active leader within Catholic Youth Ministry in the UK, Generation Hope, Youth 2000 and theASCENT.

A guiding light
Fred Ayebale

As a young Ugandan, I look up to the Pope as a symbol of spiritual guidance, hope and inspiration. His message of love of neighbour, care as a shepherd, and extending God’s mercy should be felt deeply within our hearts to encourage us to do good.

I believe he has the power to shape the lives of young people like me through his words and actions. As a young Catholic, I hope the Pope will guide me to live out my faith in daily life, inspire me to serve others and make a positive impact, offer wisdom and direction in these times of uncertainty by encouraging young people to get involved in community service, to advocate for social justice and human rights, to be agents of change in our communities through spreading messages of hope, love, and peace, to become leaders and change makers. He – and we – can provide a moral compass in a complex world.

Through his spiritual leadership, I believe Pope Leo XIV can inspire and empower young Ugandans, and young people around the world, to build a brighter future, with a spiritual perspective, according to our different spiritual environments.

Fred Ayebale is studying for a BA in Social Work and Social Administration at the Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Poral, Uganda.

A new chapter
Ryan Lee

I found it quite touching how quickly the cardinals came together to elect Pope Leo – a sign of unity within the Church – and I’m filled with hope as we begin this new chapter. His years of pastoral service as a missionary, and his deep theological grounding, suit him to face the challenges of our time. I am excited to see how he will carry out his ministry!

Ryan Lee is a student at the University of Cambridge and a former chair of Fisher House.

The Pope next door
Mary Mansfield

My first thought as the Pope stepped out on the loggia of St Peter’s was that it was nice to see the papal mozzetta and stole again. My second thought was surprise that he was an American – a feeling also expressed in the eloquent hesitation in the square after the announcement of Prevost’s name, despite his being a contender for the Chair of Peter.

And while I’m more interested in papal fashion than Church politics, it’s worth recalling that, in the not-so-distant past, an American pope was discussed merely as an impossibility; the risk of having a papacy tied to a major world power was deemed too great, given the likelihood of the strings of Church and State becoming knotted in the global entanglements of political interests. The election of this American Pope would seem to say less about a shift in the Church (with Prevost likely to maintain what Francis began), and more about the progressive shift towards political globalisation.

But the election of an American pope is certainly not without consequence for the Church, particularly the US Church. The nationwide publicity machine immediately initiated interviews with the Pope’s brothers – live from the lawns of suburban America – creating an image of the newly-minted Leo XIV as Bob, the boy-next-door pope.

Will this domestication of the Catholic Church for Americans allow this country of Protestant roots finding a native identification with Catholicism, giving the US what the heritage of Christendom is for Europe? Will an American in the Vatican see either the baptism of American culture, or a baptism by American culture? As social media puts it, if the Pope is a Midwesterner, will babies now be baptised with ranch dressing?

Mary Mansfield is a design associate at Verso Ministries, a US-based pilgrimage company.

Pope Leo’s priorities
Kisembo Immaculate

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church and young people worldwide. As the first US born pope, he brings a fresh perspective, building on Pope Francis’ legacy. With his background in social justice, shaped by experiences in Latin America, Pope Leo is poised to address pressing issues like poverty, inequality, climate justice, and peace.

I hope to see him prioritise social justice and climate change, empowering youth voices in climate action and promoting environmental sustainability. In the spheres of mental health and youth engagement, he can create programmes to develop deep spiritual connections and leverage modern communication tools, and to encourage young people to deepen their faith through involvement in church activities – particularly with the greater involvement of women. His work for interfaith dialogue and ecumenism can build bridges between faith communities, with a preferential option for indigenous people and developing countries.

As Pope Leo starts his papacy, his ability to balance social justice reforms and faith will shape the Church’s future and open doors for the growth of the Church and her people in faith, building God’s kingdom of justice and peace. May the Lord bless our Holy Father.

Kisembo Immaculate is an educator at Holy Cross Lake View School in Jinja, Uganda, and is a publications editor for the Laudato Youth Initiative. She has published articles on mental health, faith, peace and ecological justice.

Beyond ideology
Ciaron Tobin

The Pope is a breath of fresh air for the Church. Unexpected, non-partisan, and blurring those who would categorise him with a political ideology. The conclave was full of unhelpful speculation and smears by a divided laity. But the cardinals moved beyond this and followed the Holy Spirit. Watching it at my university chaplaincy was a joy, to witness the stunned silence and then joyful prayer for his health and success as Successor to the Chair of St Peter.

Ciaron Tobin is a postgraduate student at St John’s College, Cambridge, and captain of the Fisher House rowing team.

‘We can all walk together’
Emmanuel Donkor

A widely-circulated social media post articulates a profound truth about Church leadership: Pope John Paul II taught us what we believe, Pope Benedict XVI explored why we believe, and Pope Francis illuminates how we believe. Each pontiff, equipped with a unique charism, assesses the Church’s needs and endeavours to address them effectively.

Pope Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi observes that “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”. Pope Francis discerned the urgent need to demonstrate to contemporary world how we believe. His focus on fostering a Church that embraces everyone is not merely an ideal; it is a call to action, one that builds bridges instead of walls, advocates for peace and justice, and champions a synodal church that listens to the cry of the poor and marginalised, including migrants and our precious Earth.

I ardently believe that this is the direction we, as a pilgrim Church, must pursue in today’s world. It is essential to bear witness to our faith in a manner that leaves a lasting impact on the lives of modern people. While I do not expect Pope Leo XIV to adopt Pope Francis’ style, I sincerely hope he will continue to guide the Church along this vital path.

The election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope is timely. He stated, “I am a son of Saint Augustine, who said: ‘With you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.’ In this sense, we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.” His words assure me he is the man for the role.

Emmanuel Donkor is a Spiritan seminarian studying at the Spiritan International School of Theology in Enugu, Nigeria.