Pope Leo XIV Welcomes Catholic Influencers at Vatican Festival

Vatican City, Jul 29 (AP) Pope Leo XIV received a rousing welcome on Tuesday at the Vatican's festival for Catholic influencers. These influencers, including priests, nuns, and laypeople, utilize social media to spread and teach the Catholic faith. As he encouraged their efforts, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of safeguarding human relationships amidst the growing digital ecosystems and advances in artificial intelligence.

As history's first American pope, Leo XIV was enthusiastically welcomed by hundreds of influencers, many capturing the moment with their cellphones as he entered St. Peter's Basilica following a special Mass. The gathering of these digital missionaries is part of the Vatican's Holy Year celebration, focusing on young people and culminating in a vigil and Mass near Rome this weekend.

Pope Leo expressed gratitude to the young for using their platforms to promote the faith. He engaged with them by posing for selfies but also cautioned against neglecting genuine human connections in their quest for digital engagement. He urged them to remain vigilant against fake news and the shallow interactions that often characterize online environments.

"It is not just about creating content, but fostering a genuine encounter between hearts," Pope Leo emphasized in his multilingual address, seamlessly switching between Italian, Spanish, and English. He called the influencers to be "agents of communion," capable of overcoming division, individualism, and self-centeredness. "It is up to us," he said, "to ensure this culture remains human. Our mission is to nurture a culture of Christian humanism together—through networks of friendship, love, and, most importantly, the 'network of God.'

Over the past two days, the Vatican has expressed appreciation for the influencers' evangelizing work while warning them not to stray off-message or overlook the human aspect of interactions. Pope Leo, in particular, has prioritized addressing the threats AI poses to humanity.

The Rev. David McCallum, an American Jesuit leading a leadership development program, encouraged attendees to engage in meaningful conversations with each other, ensuring they balanced digital interactions with real-life exchanges.

Cardinal Antonio Tagle, head of the Vatican's evangelization office, advised against posts that resemble false advertising or manipulation. He recounted his experience as a victim of a fake advertisement for arthritis medicine and urged the influencers to practice discernment.

Tuesday's events felt like a mini World Youth Day, an energetic gathering teeming with teenage Catholic scouts and various church groups. This week's activities in Rome are a prelude to the Vatican's 2025 Holy Year celebrations, anticipated to draw around 32 million participants.

The atmosphere resembled a smaller version of World Youth Day, famously launched by St. John Paul II. The most recent event in Lisbon was notably animated by Rev. Guilherme Peixoto, a priest and DJ whose viral set included messages from both John Paul II and Pope Francis, advocating inclusivity in the church. Although he's in Rome this week, it's unclear if he will perform another set as memorable as in Lisbon.

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