Pope Leo XIV will have a 45-minute real-time digital conversation with teens from all over the U.S. at November event.
Fifty years ago, young Robert Prevost was a teenager in the Midwest, trying to answer God’s call while living an ordinary life.
Today, he’s the pope of the global Church. But he still knows and remembers what it’s like to be an American teenager.
Perhaps that’s why he responded with an extraordinary offer when the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) reached out to him earlier this year, asking if he would consider recording a brief video message for the teens attending.
Instead, he offered to have a 45-minute live conversation with young people at the event on Friday, November 21:
The Holy Father is expected to address up to 15,000 registered young people ages 14-18 from Catholic youth movements across the United States and engage directly with them during a 45-minute real-time dialogue.
This historic moment will mark a powerful opportunity for young people to witness the Universal Church’s care and concern for their voices, experiences, and hopes.
Hear the Pope’s live conversation
The digital encounter will take place on Friday, November 21, at 10:15 a.m. ET during NCYC’s morning general session.
You can register to attend the in-person event at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis until November 1. If your high school class or youth group isn’t signed up yet, there’s still time.
If you’re not able to attend the event, you can register to join the livestream from anywhere around the world:
Broadcast globally by EWTN, the exclusive multi-cast provider, this event isn’t just a speech—it’s a true encounter. The Holy Father will listen and respond as young people share their hopes, struggles, and faith. It’s a moment that says to every young person: your voice matters in the life of the Church.
The Digital Experience includes the following:
- Invitation to a Pre-event gathering on Tuesday, November 11 at 9:00 pm ET | 6:00 pm PT
- Detailed instructions for accessing the livestream
- Post-event resources
A pivotal moment
Katie Prejean McGrady will moderate the digital encounter.
McGrady is a wife, mom, award-winning author, international speaker, podcaster and daily radio show host.
McGrady told Aleteia that this encounter “feels like 1993 all over again,” when St. John Paul II came to the U.S. for World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado. She said, “There was this massive movement that grew from the joy of that encounter with him.”
When Pope Leo XIV was Robert Prevost, in high school in Michigan, he found his vocation. And now, 52 years later, he's going to have this encounter with young people who are discerning their vocations, who are looking for answers, who are growing up in a world with new devices and AI.
He's going to be able to offer guidance, knowing something about what it means to be an American youth. Yes, it's 52 years later, but there's a common ground that they’re already starting from.
What that encounter can spark in this country, I truly cannot wait to see what outpouring comes from that, because we know the Holy Spirit will use that. We know there will be remarkable things that can come from that.
