By HOLLY MEYER
In his first phrases directed particularly to People, Pope Leo XIV instructed younger folks on Saturday easy methods to discover hope and which means of their lives by God and in service to others.
“So many individuals who are suffering from totally different experiences of despair or unhappiness — they’ll uncover that the love of God is really therapeutic, that it brings hope,” the first American pope mentioned in a video broadcast on the jumbotron on the White Sox baseball stadium in Chicago.
The occasion — set in Leo’s hometown and on the dwelling stadium of his favourite main league group — was organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago in honor of his current election as pope. Leo seized the chance to talk on to younger folks, tying his message to the Catholic Church’s ongoing Jubilee 12 months of hope that was declared by Pope Francis.
In Saturday’s message, Leo urged these listening within the stadium and on-line to be beacons of hope able to inspiring others.
“To share that message of hope with each other — in outreach, in service, in in search of methods to make our world a greater place — offers true life to all of us, and is an indication of hope for the entire world.”
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Maria Marin and her husband, Martin Marin, pose with a cardboard cutout of Pope Leo XIV in the course of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s celebration of Pope Leo XIV at Charge Discipline, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Pat Nabong/Chicago Solar-Occasions by way of AP)
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Maria Marin and her husband, Martin Marin, pose with a cardboard cutout of Pope Leo XIV in the course of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s celebration of Pope Leo XIV at Charge Discipline, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Pat Nabong/Chicago Solar-Occasions by way of AP)
The afternoon program, emceed by Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky, highlighted Leo’s roots, together with music by town’s Leo Catholic Excessive College Choir and a musician from Peru, in response to the occasion’s program. There was additionally a dialogue that includes a former trainer of the pope in addition to a highschool classmate and fellow Augustinian.
The occasion additionally celebrated the blending of Catholicism and baseball, together with a particular invitation from the group for Leo to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a future White Sox sport.
Leo, previously Robert Prevost, was elected Could 8, changing into the primary American pope within the 2,000-year historical past of the church.
Leo, 69, spent his profession serving as an Augustinian missionary and ministering in Peru earlier than taking up the Vatican’s highly effective workplace of bishops. He succeeded Pope Francis, who died April 21.
“Once I see each one in every of you, after I see how folks collect collectively to have a good time their religion, I uncover myself how a lot hope there may be on this planet,” Leo mentioned within the video message.
This system was adopted by a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago who was a part of the conclave that elected Leo.
Related Press faith protection receives assist by the AP’s collaboration with The Dialog US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely chargeable for this content material.
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