Pope at Youth Mass: Christ is Knocking Gently at the Window of Your Soul

Rome, August 3, 2025: During the Mass for the Jubilee of Young People at Tor Vergata in Rome on Sunday morning, Pope Leo XIV reminded young people that Jesus is their hope and called them to “adventure with the Lord toward eternity,” noting that the Lord is “gently knocking at the window of your soul.”

The Pope’s homily began with a reflection on the Risen Christ who, though not explicitly mentioned in the day’s liturgy, “transforms our lives and enlightens our affections, desires and thoughts.”

He pointed to the first reading from Ecclesiastes, which prompts reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the limitations of human existence. “We are not made for a life where everything is taken for granted and static,” the Pope said, “but for an existence that is constantly renewed through the gift of self in love.”

Pope Leo warned against trying to quench the deep thirst in our hearts with superficial substitutes. “Let us not deceive our hearts by trying to satisfy them with cheap imitations!” he urged. Instead, he encouraged the faithful to listen to their hearts and allow this thirst to elevate them towards an encounter with God: “We will then find ourselves before Him, who is waiting for us, knocking gently on the window of our soul.”

Quoting Saint Augustine, the Pope reflected on the saint’s search for God, highlighting the insight that true hope lies not in the things of the earth, but in “the One Who made them.” Augustine had prayed: “You [Lord] were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you […] You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness."

Recognising similar yearnings in today’s youth, the Pope said, “There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore,” prompting questions about true happiness and life’s meaning.

Pope Leo noted that while young pilgrims had experienced many beautiful moments in recent days, the fullness of life is not found in possessions, but in what we freely welcome and share. “Buying, hoarding and consuming are not enough,” he said. “We need to lift our eyes... to the things that are above.”

Reaffirming that “Jesus is our hope,” he urged youth to stay close to Him through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity, drawing inspiration from Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati and Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Entrusting the pilgrims to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Leo concluded by urging them to walk joyfully in Christ’s footsteps and share their faith with others.

Courtesy: Vatican News

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