Pope Leo XIV has encouraged young people to embrace marriage and family life, urging them not to allow fear of lifelong commitment to prevent them from building families.
The Catholic leader delivered the message on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during a prayer vigil at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, attended by tens of thousands of people.
Addressing young people, the Pope said:
“Young people, dare to take the step of marrying and starting a family yourselves. Do not be afraid of ‘forever’!”
He also encouraged married couples to remain open to having children, challenging the growing perception that raising a family is primarily a burden.
“Married couples, open your home to life, even when the world tells you that a child is a burden,” he declared.
His remarks come amid concerns about declining birth rates, changing attitudes toward marriage and increasing secularization in parts of South America.
During the gathering, Pope Leo XIV also encouraged Christians to demonstrate their faith through love, forgiveness, honesty and service to others.
He urged believers not to settle for a superficial religious life but to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Pope’s message highlighted the Catholic Church’s emphasis on marriage, family responsibilities and lifelong commitment.
For Christians, marriage is also presented in Scripture as a relationship built on love, faithfulness and mutual responsibility.
Genesis 2:24 declares:
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
The Pope’s appeal has renewed conversations about the importance of marriage, raising children and strengthening family relationships in modern society.
