Article by Amelia Campbell ’26
The National Catholic Youth Conference, during which Pope Leo XVI held a zoom conference in front of the 16,000 student attendees, took place on November 21 in Indianapolis: and the Kellenberg student body tuned in virtually for a one of a kind papal experience.
This opportunity was spearheaded by Fr. Daniel Griffin, S.M., who thought it would be “A unique experience for the students of Kellenberg to see the first American pope speak with American teenagers.”
This event caused many students to reflect on the day in May where the student body was able to watch as he was declared Pope. During the papal encounter, the teens asked questions about things that currently impact the lives of adolescents across the country. The teens spoke about their concerns with topics ranging from anxiety to AI, and asked Pope Leo for his input on the topics.
On the topic of AI, The Pope stressed the importance of not being reliant on Artificial Intelligence and the importance of thinking for oneself, informing the students that AI can not replace the human soul and spirit, as well as further reminding the students not to rely on Artificial Intelligence to do tasks such as homework. This truly struck senior Kira Petrosky, who stated,“It was really amazing to hear Pope Leo live and for him to comment on modern issues like AI. Having an American pope gives me hope that the country as a whole may turn back towards the church.” This message of hope for the world is especially important during this Jubilee celebration in the year of hope. Her sentiment was shared by many students who took pride in seeing people their own age engage in conversations with the pope about various teen issues.
The event concluded with Pope Leo offering a blessing for all students. He reminded the students that they are the future of the church and the world, so it is our responsibility to further spread the gospel. The papal encounter spread a message of faith and hope as teens were further reminded of the responsibility they have to lead the church in the future, whether it be in religious life or as a lay person.
Several members of the Kellenberg Memorial High School community traveled with their parishes for the once in a lifetime opportunity to attend.
