Let us commit ourselves to living as Jesus did, Pope tells West African youth

September 09, 2026

Pope Leo XIV encouraged participants in the first West African Youth Days to commit themselves to living as Jesus lived, and in doing so to reach out to the marginalized.

“One of the challenges you face is that of walking together to help bring about positive change in your societies,” Pope Leo said in a video message released on September 8. “Walking together means ensuring that no one is marginalized, isolated, excluded or rejected.”

“Be builders of bridges between peoples, cultures and religions,” he continued. “We must commit ourselves to living as Jesus, our Master and Lord, lived, who excluded no one from his journey. He recognized the presence of God in those who lived on the margins of society, even in those who did not belong to his own people.”

The Pontiff continued:

Dear young people, I am counting on you and I trust you, the Church trusts you. Through your words and actions, give a strong message to our world of wars and conflicts of all kinds. Be witnesses of love, justice, peace. Do not sacrifice your precious youth on the altar of artificial pleasures and superficiality.

The West African Youth Days are taking place in Accra, Ghana. The event began on September 7 and concludes September 12.

 

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Further information:

• Video message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the 1st West African Youth Day (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 9/8/26)
• West African Youth Days: Five days to foster peace and hope (Vatican News, 9/7/26)