- 07 October, 2026
Rome, Oct 7, 2026: Inviting young people to see love not as a passing emotion but as a lifelong vocation, Pope Leo XIV has written the foreword to YOUCAT Love Forever, a new guide on relationships and marriage presented in Rome on October 6.
The book brings together questions, experiences and testimonies from young people in more than 30 countries, offering a Catholic perspective on love, relationships and the journey towards marriage. Developed with the involvement of young people, married couples, priests and theologians, it seeks to address the questions young people face as they discern relationships and their vocation to love.
Pope Leo: Love is a decision, not simply a feeling
In his foreword, Pope Leo acknowledges the deep desire for lasting love in the human heart, describing it as a sign that people are created for love. Drawing on St Augustine, he connects this longing ultimately with the human search for God.
The Pope distinguishes authentic love from an emotion that depends on changing feelings. Love, he writes, involves a profound commitment to another person — a decision, a journey and a covenant for life. It calls a person to ask not simply what they can receive from a relationship, but how they can love as Christ loved.
For Pope Leo, marriage offers a particular expression of this self-giving love. The faithfulness, forgiveness and daily effort of husband and wife can reflect Christ’s love for the Church. He also reminds young people that Christian love is not expected to be perfect from the beginning, but grows through faith and perseverance.
The Cross as the measure of Christian love
The Pope places the Cross at the heart of his reflection on relationships. Christ’s willingness to give His life becomes the clearest expression of the love Christians are called to imitate.
“Do not be afraid of its depth,” Pope Leo tells young people, encouraging them to see lasting love not as an impossible ideal but as a gift that can sustain them through the difficulties of life.
YOUCAT Love Forever seeks to accompany young people along this journey, from the first expressions of affection through the discernment of marriage and the lifelong promise that follows. The book is based on around 1,000 questions and suggestions gathered from young people around the world.
India’s Youth Voice in Rome
Young people from YOUCAT India also made a significant contribution to the international project, bringing Indian experiences and cultural perspectives into the book.
Led by Maria Francis, the Indian group worked for almost two years through regular online meetings, studying and discussing each section of the text. They gathered insights from young people, responded to theological questions in accessible language and worked alongside theologians as the material was developed.
The Indian team included Martha Francis from Bengaluru, Anastasia Pinto from Vasai, Derek Mascarenhas from Udupi and Gauravi Xavier from Gujarat. Their involvement brought voices from different parts of India into a global conversation on love, relationships and marriage.
Their contribution also reflects the wider approach behind YOUCAT Love Forever: listening to young people themselves and allowing their questions and experiences to shape a resource intended for their generation.
A “Yes” for a Lifetime
At its heart, the new YOUCAT points young people towards a deeper understanding of vocation. Pope Leo describes the book as preparation for a “yes” that is not limited to one day, but extends throughout a lifetime — a faithful and tireless response to the call to love.
He concludes by entrusting young people to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and inviting them, like Mary, to respond with courage and trust to what he calls “the most beautiful of all vocations: the vocation to love.”
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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