Pope Leo XIV urges young people to commit to a love that lasts a lifetime

Pope Leo XIV told engaged couples gathered in St. Peter's Square during the General Audience on September 9, 2026, that love should not be treated as a mere feeling but as a conscious decision, a journey and a covenant that lasts a lifetime. His remarks come from the preface he wrote for the new edition of the YouCat catechism, "YouCat. Amor para siempre" ("Love Forever"), which will be released in November. It is the first edition of the catechism with a preface by the Augustinian pope.

In the preface, Leo XIV said the desire for love that every human being experiences is not accidental but "is the sign that you were created for love." Quoting St. Augustine, he recalled that "our heart is restless until it rests in you," and said that "God himself can become present in human love and transform it," giving people the capacity to love generously and, when necessary, to forgive.

Love as a decision and a covenant

The pope said the love between a man and a woman can be felt intensely but is not just a passing feeling. When it reflects divine love, he said, "It is much more. It is a deep 'yes' to the other, a decision, a journey and a covenant for life." He added that "strong and deep relationships are built together on mutual trust," and that true love asks, "How can I love as Christ has loved?" rather than "What am I going to receive?"

Marriage reveals part of the divine mystery, Leo XIV said, because "when a man and a woman give themselves completely to one another in love, God comes to life in their midst." Fidelity, forgiveness and the daily effort to do good reflect Christ's love for his Church, he said.

Not fearing the depth of love

Leo XIV urged young people not to fear the depth of the "great love" to which they are called, saying it "is strong enough to overcome difficulties and great enough to sustain you throughout your whole life." This love is not perfect, he said, but it can grow in the light of faith. "It is a gift from God and we cannot produce it by ourselves," he said, and unlike human love, which is often marked by selfish desires, "it is selfless, patient and kind."

The pope cited the qualities of love described by St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians, and concluded that "the most beautiful image of true love is the one we contemplate when we look at the cross of Jesus Christ," which reveals a love that "loves us so much that he was willing to die for us."

The catechism as an invitation to young people

Leo XIV praised the content of "YouCat. Amor para siempre," which includes numerous testimonies from young people in more than 30 countries who show that "the ideal to which Christ calls us is a fascinating treasure." The catechism invites young people to open their hearts to a plan that surpasses any human dream, preparing a "yes" that is not for a single day but for a lifetime, a "yes" that, like God's love, is tireless and faithful.

Leo XIV closed his message by praying that young people would respond "with confidence and courage to the most beautiful of all vocations: the vocation to love."