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Pope tells young Argentines to resist social media pressure at Buenos Aires mass
Pope Leo XIV urged young Argentines to resist the pull of social media approval, money and popularity, and to seek meaning through faith and the example of saints. His message came during a large gathering in Buenos Aires, where he warned that chasing online approval can lead people to lie or humiliate others.
The event was a prayer vigil attended by an estimated one million people, at the same site where Leo celebrated Mass for about 2.5 million the previous day. He also cautioned against pornography and addictive substances, describing them as sources of pleasure that can become enslaving, and encouraged young people to share their faith.
In short
- Leo urged young Argentines to resist social media approval.
- An estimated one million attended the Buenos Aires vigil.
- He warned against money, pornography and addictive substances.
Explained simply
Buenos Aires is Argentina’s capital and largest city, and the Catholic Church has a long-standing presence in the country. A prayer vigil is a gathering for communal prayer, often held before or alongside a religious service.
Pope Leo XIV leads the worldwide Catholic Church, whose members include many young people in Argentina. Saints are people recognised by the Church for their holiness and are often held up as examples of Christian life.
The gathering brought together a large number of young people to pray and hear religious guidance. The discussion of social media, money and popularity connects faith with pressures many people encounter in everyday life.