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Pope Leo XIV to Assisi youth: ‘Europe and the whole world are looking to you to be new saints’

August 6, 2026 · 1 min read

ASSISI, Italy — Pope Leo XIV called on young people gathered in Assisi to become “new saints,” reject the culture of power, and help build a world founded on fraternity rather than domination.

The pope celebrated Mass on Thursday at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels before the Portiuncula, the small chapel closely associated with the life and vocation of St. Francis.

Addressing approximately 2,500 participants in the GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting on the feast of the Transfiguration, Pope Leo said Assisi has long drawn pilgrims because “everything whispers that our lives can take on a new form, radiate light and heal the world.”

“It was here that the transformation of Francis, Clare and then thousands of other young people began,” he said. “They embraced the Gospel sine glossa — we could say, in its simplicity — then the life of Jesus began anew within them.”

Reflecting on the Gospel account of the Transfiguration, the pope said the young pilgrims had come to Assisi in search of direction and meaning.

“We have come here to understand where history is heading and where we ourselves are going,” he said. “In the Gospel, we see that meaning can indeed be found, that a…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Валентина Соколова

It’s good that we were reminded of the Portiuncula and the simplicity of the Gospel “sine glossa”. Just the other day we were singing the troparion of the Transfiguration in our choir, and I thought that young people really need such a clear point of support, and not all this fuss. It’s interesting that what exactly the Pope said about the “culture of power” was cut off later in the article.

Петро Мороз

Yes, Portiuncula is the small place where Francis truly heard the Gospel and changed everything. It is good that the Pope emphasized "sine glossa", without embellishment. But what exactly did he say about the "culture of power" - it's interesting, Valentina, add it if you've finished reading it. We also often talk about it at youth gatherings, because boys love football, and someone always wants to be in charge there.

Ксения Соловьёва

Just last week in our Sunday school we were looking at the life of Francis and this very Portiuncula - the boys immediately became excited that they could give up everything and live simply. So the Pope spoke well about “sine glossa”, without embellishment. And about the “culture of power”, I wonder what exactly he meant - maybe when young people, instead of climbing to the top, just start helping each other?

Helena Schmidt

In our church choir last week we also sang the Tropár for the Festival of Metamorphosis, just as Valentina writes. I think the portiuncula and this “sine glossa” are good because it's really just about simple things, not about big words. I would also be interested to know exactly what the Pope said about the “culture of power” – perhaps that is in the full text.

Ксения Попова

In our lessons at school we were just recently talking about Francis and this Portiuncula - the children immediately asked whether it is possible to live so simply now, without all this race. It’s good that the Pope emphasized “sine glossa”, without embellishment. But about the “culture of power” and what he proposed instead - it would be interesting to read in full.

Elisabeth Wagner

Yes, the “sine glossa” really suits Francis – in our community last year we simply read the rule in the kitchen and then thought about what we could really put away. Regarding the culture of power, he said that it always wants to dominate instead of serving, and that we should specifically reject this among young people. Have you already found the full text?

Theresa Wagner

Yes, the “sine glossa” also triggered something for us in the choir – after the reading we simply put the music away and only sang a cappella, which was really necessary. I agree about the power culture. I often notice with the young people in the kitchen how quickly they prefer to play boss rather than lend a hand. Have you found the full text yet?