Pope Leo warns of ‘enslaving pleasures’ in vigil with young people
The pontiff cautioned about the dangers of money, pornography, and social media to an estimated audience of 1 million in Palermo La entrada Pope Leo warns of ‘enslaving pleasures’ in vigil with young people se publicó primero en Buenos Aires Herald .
An estimated one million people gathered for a vigil led by Pope Leo XIV in Buenos Aires City on Tuesday evening. The event took place at the same location where the pontiff's first Mass in the country was held on Monday. The vigil featured musical performances, testimonials from four young individuals, and concluded with a fireworks display as everyone sang a popular Latin American Church song, "Alma misionera."
Pope Leo XIV arrived in a Popemobile, waving to the crowd and stopping repeatedly to bless infants and receive gifts from onlookers. Buenos Aires resident Jorge García Cuerva opened the vigil by addressing the wounds inflicted by poverty, loneliness, addiction, and unemployment. He stressed the significance of solidarity, emphasizing that "no one should be left by the wayside."
After hearing the testimonies of two men and two women, accompanied by musical guests, Pope Leo XIV focused on the issue of "idols" in people's lives. He mentioned success, money, appearances, popularity, and the "unbridled pursuit of pleasure." He cautioned that people might lie, betray, or humiliate others on social media to gain approval. Pope Leo also criticized those who profit from practices that create dependency, such as pornography and various substances.
Echoing Pope Francis's rhetoric, Pope Leo XIV warned young people against "false idols" and urged them to stand firm against them. He told the emotionally charged audience, "You are called to stand firm against the idols of our time. Do not kneel before that which cannot give you life! And if you have ever fallen, get back up! Do not let anything or anyone take away the freedom that God has given you."
To conclude the vigil, Pope Leo XIV entrusted the young people with the second part of the theme: "Go and proclaim!" He encouraged them to spread the message in their cities, towns, and surrounding areas so that those feeling distant from God could discover that Christ was also seeking them. The pontiff also announced the blessing of a cross that would travel through the communities, asking that as it passed from one person to another, it might transmit the fire of Christ's love from heart to heart.
Finally, he entrusted the journey to Our Lady of Luján and concluded with the final invitation: "All toward Christ, all with Christ, all like Christ!"
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Herald's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
