Pope Leo urges Catholic schools to be aware of ‘digital loneliness’ and ‘misguided meritocracy’

Pope Leo XIV told educators at a Vatican student ministry conference on Oct. 22 that Catholic schools and universities must serve as homes where students feel known and valued. He spoke to conference participants about the difficulties young people face, including broken families, digital loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy.

The pope said a performance-driven culture that constantly ranks people can lead to a misguided meritocracy that fails to respect individuals. He noted that many students feel anonymous or are paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes and failing to meet expectations.

To address these challenges, Pope Leo said schools should provide a welcoming environment where staff notice a student's absence and value their presence. He suggested that pastoral ministry in educational settings is more effective when it recognizes the underlying desire of teenagers to love and be loved.