Pope Leo to US Teens: Use AI Wisely, Don’t Let Tech Replace Real Friends

From his starter word on Wordle to warnings about AI dangers, Pope Leo spoke directly to young Americans about relationships, prayer, and why no political party owns the Church.

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In Indianapolis on Friday, more than 16,000 Catholic teens erupted in cheers as Pope Leo XIV’s smiling face beamed onto the jumbotron at Lucas Oil Stadium.

For the first time, an American pope held a live digital dialogue with the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), answering questions from high schoolers in real time.

As a proud NCYC alumnus — from Atlanta 2005’s “Winds of Change” gathering, which I reflected on in the Tennessee Register back in the day for anyone inclined to dig it up — I know the electric feeling of faith and fellowship that fills that arena.

This year it was supercharged by an unprecedented Q&A with the Holy Father — a moment many described as “magical.”

Right off the bat, Pope Leo had the stadium laughing.

Moderator Katie Prejean McGrady light-heartedly asked if he still had the socks she gave him, and what his go-to starter word is for Wordle.

The pope grinned and confessed, “I only wear white socks, and I use a different word for Wordle every day, so there’s no set starting word.”

Yes, the pope plays Wordle — and for the record, he’s a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan.

That warm, witty exchange broke the ice. But soon Leo XIV leaned forward to deliver a message of hope and challenge tailored to Gen Z Catholics.

Your Voice and Ideas Matter Now

Pope Leo made sure the young people knew their importance in the Church today, not in some distant future.

“You are not only the future of the Church, you are the present! ... Your voices, your ideas, your faith matter right now, and the Church needs you,” he told them emphatically.

The arena erupted in applause as he encouraged teens to “dream big” and get involved in parish life now — from Sunday Mass to service projects.

One participant on stage said walking up to speak with the pope “felt like history” — an unforgettable affirmation that their faith and questions matter.

People Over Pixels: Be Wise with AI and Tech

Several questions homed in on technology, a defining reality for this generation. One teen admitted to “endlessly scrolling” on his phone and asked how to balance digital habits with real-life faith.

Another asked about relying on artificial intelligence for schoolwork. Pope Leo didn’t scold; he smiled knowingly and offered fatherly advice. Yes, technology can be a great aid — there are apps for prayer, ways to share the Gospel — “but it can never replace real in-person relationships,” he warned.

Citing the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis (the tech-savvy teen beatified in 2020), Leo urged the crowd to be intentional with their screen time and make sure “your technology serves your life, and not the other way around.”

On the hot topic of AI, the pope’s guidance was equally clear. No algorithm should do your thinking or ruin your friendships.

“AI can process information quickly,” the Holy Father noted, “but it cannot offer you wisdom… Be prudent, be careful, be wise with the use of AI. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think.”

In other words, don’t let ChatGPT (or any gadget) replace the unique gift of human intelligence and presence. Coming from a pope who uses digital media himself, this wasn’t a rejection of tech — it was a plea to keep technology in its proper place as a tool, never a substitute for real human connection or our God-given reason.

When Prayer Is Hard, Keep Showing Up

Another student asked what to do when prayer feels dry or distractions hit. Pope Leo’s answer was disarmingly practical: it’s okay if your mind wanders sometimes. “Sometimes the best thing to do is to follow the distraction for a moment and see why it’s there,” he said; then gently refocus by telling Jesus, “Look Lord, I’m distracted right now, I know you understand.”

The teens seemed relieved to hear that even the pope gets distracted and that God isn’t angry about it. Leo encouraged them not to give up on daily prayer and Mass, even if they sometimes “feel nothing.” He pointed to Eucharistic adoration and quiet time as moments when “Jesus often speaks to us gently, in stillness.”

The key is to keep the relationship with Christ alive. “Give all your worries to Jesus because he cares for us,” the Holy Father said, quoting St. Peter’s biblical advice.

Jesus wants to carry our burdens — but “we cannot give our problems to someone who we barely know,” he added, urging them to build a real friendship with their Savior.

It was a simple but profound reminder that faith isn’t about never struggling; it’s about bringing our struggles to God and trusting Him through it all.

Faith Above Politics

In perhaps his most pointed aside, Pope Leo gently warned the teens against misplacing their faith in partisan identities. “Please be careful not to use political categories to speak of faith or to speak of the Church,” he cautioned. “The Church doesn’t belong to any political party.”

American Catholics often feel tugged left and right by politics, but Leo XIV made it clear that the Gospel stands above partisan platforms. Instead of letting faith be weaponized, he told the young, let the Church form your conscience so you can think and act with wisdom and love.

The roar of approval in the stadium suggested this struck a chord with Gen-Z Catholics, many of whom are turned off by our hyper-partisan culture. It was a timely message that living the Beatitudes and caring for the vulnerable should never be boxed into one party’s agenda.

After 45 minutes of heartfelt dialogue, Pope Leo gave the crowd his blessing — but not before assuring them of his prayers and confidence in their generation.

“I see great hope and promise in you... and I trust that the Lord is at work in your lives,” he said warmly.

It felt like the Church was truly listening to its young. This digital fireside chat showed Leo XIV’s pastoral heart and professor’s mind at work: mixing jokes about socks and Wordle with quotes from Scripture and saints, challenging young Catholics to be both holy and tech-savvy, both prayerful and engaged in the world.

As thousands of teenagers spilled out of Lucas Oil Stadium, there was a sense that something special had happened.

They had heard the Vicar of Christ speak to them in plain language about their real lives — about TikTok and friendship troubles, anxieties and dreams — and link it all back to Jesus.

In an age of cynicism, Pope Leo offered a different script: one of hope, friendship, and trust in God’s plan.

“Now is the time to dream big,” he had reminded them — and judging by the joy on those young faces Friday night, those dreams just got a little brighter.

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