Pope Leo XIV urges young people to choose marriage in new YouCat preface

Pope Leo XIV has written the prologue to a new edition of YouCat, the youth catechism, encouraging young people to choose marriage. The updated edition, intended for those considering marriage, was prepared by a group of married couples, theologians and priests. It is being released on the eve of a conference on Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation on the family. The conference is aimed at promoting the positive values of family life.

YouCat was first published in 2011 under the direction of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. The revised and updated version is designed to offer young people a more accessible guide. In his prologue, Leo XIV stresses the importance of Catholic marriage and offers reflections in line with the aims of the conference, which focuses on recognizing and encouraging family values among young people.

Continuity in the formation of young people

The new edition of YouCat also includes an epilogue by Pope Francis.

The prologue by Leo XIV and the epilogue by Francis appear together in the revised catechism, linking the two pontificates on family ministry and marriage preparation.

Family ministry

The conference on Amoris Laetitia is presented as an opportunity for the Church to explore new approaches to family ministry at a time of deep social and cultural change.

The revised YouCat is intended to speak to younger generations in their own language and to offer doctrinal guidance to those who see marriage as an expression of their faith.