Pope Leo’s video messsage to “Ankawa Youth Meeting in Iraq”
[8-11 July 2026, Iraq]
As young people from across Iraq gather in Ankawa, in the Archeparchy of Erbil, for their annual Youth Meeting from 8 to 11 July, Pope Leo XIV is encouraging them to embrace their vocation as missionaries of hope, urging them to become “Christ’s light” in a country that continues to experience the consequences of war and instability.
Pope Leo’s video message,
Dear young friends,
It is my pleasure to greet all of you participating in the Ankawa Youth Meeting in the Archeparchy of Erbil. You have come from different parts of Iraq to gather in an atmosphere of faith and communion. I pray that this meeting will provide an opportunity for you to grow in friendship with Jesus and with one another.
Youth is a time of life marked by a desire to achieve great things and make a difference in the world.
In this regard, I am glad to know that the theme chosen for your meeting this year is “mission.”
The Church’s mission is vital: to serve the world by sharing the light of Christ (Jn 8:12) and bringing people into communion with God.
You share in this mission, and I look to you to help shape the Church—and the world—in the years to come. As I have said before, young people are the present and future of the Church.
Being a light in the world is not always easy (
Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.).
At the present time, you are called to radiate this light in a world often marked by war and instability. The Lord has placed great trust in you by entrusting you with this mission, and I have great confidence in all of you as well. You must be Christ’s light amidst a darkness that can seem overwhelming at times. Do not be afraid! Do not think that you are alone in this task.
I am with you, and so is the Church. Place your trust in Jesus. Listen to him in prayer, and allow him to guide you through the guidance of others.
Light is essential for life in many ways.
I would like to mention three ways that can help guide you on this mission.
First, light is necessary for seeing, which reminds us of the gift of faith.
Faith in God is not a coping mechanism for life’s difficulties.
Rather, it is recognizing reality and living in truth. It is learning to see the world, others, and ourselves as God does.
Faith requires us to journey through life with our hearts and eyes fixed on our true homeland knowing that God is with us even though we cannot see him.
Your way of life must also bear witness to your faith so that others can see the truth and meaning they desire in you and come to share the same light.
The second aspect of light is its ability to provide warmth, which symbolizes love.
To be a light to the world, we must first share in the light and life of Christ.
In order to participate in the mission, we must first establish a personal relationship with God.
We must get to know him. By opening ourselves to God’s transformative love, we receive the necessary grace to follow Jesus and embrace the life he calls us to lead.
This is why it is important to spend time each day in prayer and draw close to God through the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist.
Ground your hearts in the solid foundation of God’s love for you. Discover the heart of Christ and do not be afraid to build your lives upon him (1 John 4:16).
Doing so will not only fulfill you, but also enable you to share the warmth of God’s love and the reconciling power of his grace with those around you.
Finally, light is necessary for growth and new life. It is also a symbol of hope.
Rooted in charity, you are called to be peacemakers. You are called to unite those around you and instill in others the hope of a future marked by lasting peace.
While you may not be able to control your situation or the challenges you face, you can always choose to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.
The virtue of hope inspires us to look toward Heaven.
This does not mean forgetting about the world, but rather having the confidence to share the peace and life that come from Christ with it. His light illuminates the New Jerusalem.
Dear young people,
Never doubt the goodness of God. Do not be afraid of the plan the Lord has for your lives.
The prophet Jeremiah faced difficult times as well, and he testifies that God’s plans are “for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
I entrust each of you to the maternal protection and guidance of Mary, Mother of the Church. May you discover in her the true example of a life fully given over to the grace of God during these days of spiritual renewal. May Almighty God bless all of you, the ✠ Father, and the ✠ Son, and the ✠ Holy Spirit. Amen
