'Do not bow down before that which cannot give you life': Pope Leo XIV's message to more than one million young people in Argentina

Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff born in the United States, led a massive vigil with young people on Tuesday night in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In his message, he urged the crowd not to bow down before "the idols of our time" and to respond fearlessly to the call of faith. The event featured local artists and concluded with a fireworks display as the song "Alma misionera" played.

The gathering took place at the Monument of the Spanish, in the Palermo neighborhood, under the slogan "Take heart, get up!" It was the third day of the pope's visit to the South American country.

Before his speech, Leo XIV listened to the testimonies of four young people. One of them was Agustín Cristian Schinca, 25, who recounted how he overcame addiction with the help of Hogar de Cristo, a network of Church-run centers, and whom the pope embraced on stage.

"Do not kneel before that which cannot give you life"

The pope structured his speech around the biblical account of Ananias, Azariah and Mishael—three young men who, according to the Book of Daniel, were thrown into a blazing furnace for refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's golden statue. Drawing on that story, he warned against modern idols.

"Dear friends, even today idols arise that demand our adoration: success at any cost, money, an obsession with appearances, popularity, or the unbridled pursuit of pleasure. Sometimes, just to gain the approval of others, we may go so far as to lie, betray, or humiliate someone on social media. Envy can prevent us from rejoicing in the good fortune of others, and selfishness can lead us to treat people as objects," he noted.

"There are also those who make a business out of offering pleasures that ultimately enslave us, such as pornography and various substances," he added.

The pope then linked that message to the testimony of Agustín, the young man who had described how he overcame addiction and who said, "Today I am standing. How powerful those words become when we recall the three young men of Babylon! You, too, are called to stand firm in the face of the idols of our time. Do not kneel before that which cannot give you life! And if you have ever fallen, get back up! Do not let anything or anyone take away the freedom that God has given you," he continued.

"There is a place for you in the Church"

Echoing the famous phrase of Pope Francis at World Youth Day in Lisbon—"everyone, everyone, everyone"—León XIV structured his message around three ideas: all toward Christ, everyone with Christ and all like Christ.

"Among you are those who have grown up close to Jesus and those who are only now beginning to seek Him; those who have not prayed for a long time, have drifted away from the Church, or have been hurt by people who should have supported them. To each one I would like to say: There is a place for you in the Church! With your questions, your wounds, and your story. This is your home, too. You don't have to pretend that everything is fine or wait until your life is in order to come closer," he said.

However, he clarified that this welcome does not equate to moral indifference, since "we all need to be converted." He also encouraged young people not to be afraid to go to confession, pray, read the Gospel, and receive the Eucharist.

At the conclusion, he blessed a cross that will tour the country's Catholic communities and bid farewell to the crowd with the motto of his visit: "Go and proclaim."

León XIV's itinerary in Argentina

The pontiff arrived on Sunday from Uruguay. After paying tribute to General San Martín, he was welcomed at the Casa Rosada by President Javier Milei, with whom he held a private meeting lasting about 30 minutes. Then he addressed leaders from across the political spectrum at the Palacio Libertad.

On Monday, he visited the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, which houses more than 400 people with disabilities, and celebrated a Mass attended by a large crowd at the Monument to the Spanish. He also met with victims of abuse by members of the Church. In the evening, he presided over a meeting with the bishops at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

On Tuesday morning, he traveled to Cordoba, where he celebrated another Mass and met with bishops, priests, religious, and seminarians at the cathedral. Back in Buenos Aires, he led the vigil before more than a million young people.

On Wednesday, his final day in the country, he is scheduled to visit the Federal Penitentiary Complex in Buenos Aires and then celebrate Mass in the plaza of the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján. In the afternoon, he will depart for Lima, Peru, where the final leg of his South American tour will begin. Peru holds special significance for Leo XIV, as he served there as a missionary and bishop for two decades.