Pope encourages prayer for young people through intercession of St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Aloysius Gonzaga
September 17, 2026
At the conclusion of his September 16 general audience, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Polish pilgrims to ask St. Stanislaus Kostka (1550-1568) and St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591) to intercede for young people.
“I cordially greet the Poles, in particular the pilgrims and seminarians from the Diocese of Płock, together with their bishop, who have retraced the footsteps of St Stanislaus Kostka from Vienna, via Dillingen, to Rome,” Pope Leo said.
“In the year of the third centenary of his canonization together with Aloysius Gonzaga, let us not cease to pray for young people, so that, through the intercession of these patron saints, they may not be afraid to make courageous choices in their lives, putting themselves at the service of God and neighbor,” the Pope added. “My blessing to you all!”
These words of the Pontiff were omitted from the Vatican’s English translation of his remarks.
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