In the latest issue of Piazza San Pietro, the magazine published by the Vatican Basilica, Pope Leo XIV responds to a letter from Veronica, a 21-year-old Roman medical student, who expresses her doubts and concerns about the direction of the world.

Doubts and desires of a generation

In her letter, Verónica expresses her dream of becoming a doctor to alleviate the suffering of those most in need. But her questions arise amidst a disturbing context: wars, conflicts, and the deaths of innocent people. “Can we have hope? What will our role be? What can young people do to change the world for the better?” she asks.

These are questions that many share, and the Pope does not minimize them.

Recognize reality without resignation

Leo XIV admits that we live in “difficult times,” where evil seems to prevail, and the news overwhelms us. But he urges us not to give up:

“Although wars leave painful scars, we must not lose hope for a better world.”

For him, hope is a form of resistance. And he echoes Saint Augustine when he reminds us that “let us live well, and the times will be good; we are the times.” In other words: if we strive to grow in goodness, the days to come can be truly transformed.

A personal invitation: let us cultivate friendship with Jesus

At the end of his letter, the Pope addresses Veronica with tenderness: there is no distance between the Pontiff and the believer who moves forward with doubts and dreams. Leo XIV invites not only her, but all young people, to cultivate a deep friendship with Jesus: “It will be worth it. Do not give up your studies or your inner search. I bless you with all my heart.”