Pope Leo XIV tells teens true joy is in God, not social media

Pope Leo XIV sent a video message this weekend to thousands of American teenagers attending the 50th anniversary of the Steubenville Youth Conferences.

He warned the crowd that "true peace" and "perfect joy" cannot be found through the endless scrolling of digital platforms. Instead, the Pope emphasized that lasting happiness only comes from a personal encounter with God and the selfless love of others. These conferences, hosted by the Franciscan University of Steubenville, have served as a major spiritual gathering for Catholic youth for half a century.

Church leaders hope this emphasis on digital mindfulness will inspire a new generation to prioritize real-world community over online validation.