Pope Leo XIV has prayed with approximately one million young people in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, during a prayer vigil, urging them to become witnesses of Christ’s love and resist the temptations of modern society.
Addressing the massive gathering, the Pope encouraged the Argentine faithful to show the world the fire of Christ’s love, which purifies hearts and enables people to love fully and selflessly.
Reflecting on the biblical account in the Book of Daniel, Pope Leo recalled the story of three young men who were thrown into a blazing furnace in Babylon after refusing to worship an idol at the command of King Nebuchadnezzar.
He said the three young men stood out from the crowd, which had bowed down to the king’s idol. Their courage to remain faithful to God, even in the face of danger, demonstrated the importance of standing firm in one’s beliefs.
Drawing parallels with challenges facing young people today, the Pope warned against modern-day forms of idolatry, including pornography, addictive substances, the pursuit of success at any cost, money, obsession with physical appearance, popularity and the uncontrolled pursuit of pleasure.
He urged young people not to surrender their freedom and dignity to these influences, but instead to remain faithful to Christ and allow His love to guide their lives.
The prayer vigil formed part of Pope Leo XIV’s four-day pastoral visit to Argentina, which began on November 8 and concludes today, November 11.
Following the conclusion of his Argentine visit, the Pope is scheduled to travel to Peru, where he is expected to arrive in Lima today for an official welcome and meetings with state authorities.
His Peruvian programme includes planned visits to Lima, Callao, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, Cusco and Pucallpa.
The visit carries special personal significance for Pope Leo XIV, who previously lived and served in Peru as a priest and bishop, making the journey a homecoming to a country where he spent important years of his pastoral ministry.
By Gideon P Ssebulime
11th Nov 2026
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