Tag: Religion and Society

#faith

Silence Over Screens: Pope Leo XIV Calls for Prayer and Peace

Tanisha Cardozo

In a world constantly buzzing with notifications, updates, and endless digital noise, Pope Leo XIV has offered a simple yet profound invitation: switch off and listen. Speaking during his Angelus address, the pope encouraged Catholics to turn off televisions, radios, and cellphones during Lent, creating space for silence, prayer, and deeper reflection.

His message was not merely about disconnecting from technology but about reconnecting with what truly matters. He urged the faithful to meditate on the word of God, approach the sacraments, and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit within their hearts. Beyond personal spirituality, he emphasized the importance of listening to one another—in families, workplaces, and communities—highlighting a deeper human need often overshadowed by digital distractions.

Describing Lent as a “luminous path,” Pope Leo XIV spoke of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as transformative practices that help renew one’s relationship with God. He portrayed this journey as a process of healing and renewal, where individuals can cleanse the wounds of sin and move closer to a life rooted in love—the foundation of true happiness.

At the same time, he acknowledged the challenges of this spiritual path. Lent, he said, is demanding, and many may feel tempted to seek easier forms of satisfaction through wealth, fame, or power. However, he cautioned that such pursuits ultimately leave individuals feeling empty and restless, offering only temporary comfort instead of lasting fulfillment.

Drawing from the teachings of Pope Paul VI, he reminded believers that penance is not a loss but a gain—one that enriches, purifies, and strengthens the human spirit. It is through this discipline that individuals can align themselves with a higher purpose centered on love and surrender.

Extending his message beyond personal reflection, the pope also called for compassion toward those on the margins of society. He urged people to dedicate time to the elderly, the poor, and the sick, suggesting that the act of giving—whether time, attention, or resources—can bring meaningful change to both the giver and the receiver.

However, the address took a deeply global turn as Pope Leo XIV spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine, marking nearly four years since the conflict began. His words reflected both urgency and sorrow as he described the immense human suffering caused by the war—lives lost, families torn apart, and communities destroyed.

Calling peace an “urgent necessity,” he appealed for an immediate ceasefire, urging that weapons fall silent and bombings cease. He emphasized the need for dialogue, advocating for responsible decisions that pave the way toward lasting peace. His message was clear: war is not just a regional tragedy but a wound inflicted on the entire human family.

In closing, he entrusted the Lenten journey of the faithful to the care of the Virgin Mary, offering a message of hope and guidance during times of trial. His words served as both a spiritual reminder and a global appeal—inviting individuals not only to look inward but also to act outward with compassion, awareness, and a shared commitment to peace.

In an age defined by constant connection, his call to disconnect may be one of the most relevant messages of our time.

#faith

Why Gen Z Is Finding Its Way Back to Faith?

Tanisha Cardozo

For decades, each new generation appeared to move further away from organised religion. Millennials and Gen X came of age during a period marked by increasing secularisation, skepticism toward institutions, and a preference for individual belief over communal practice. Gen Z, however, is beginning to disrupt that long-term trend in unexpected ways.

Multiple surveys across Western countries now indicate that Gen Z shows higher levels of church attendance and religious identification than Millennials and Gen X did at the same age. Many young people are not only attending weekly services but are also actively participating in faith-based communities, particularly within Christianity. This shift is less about inherited tradition and more about conscious choice.

Researchers point to rising anxiety, economic uncertainty, social fragmentation, and digital overload as major factors influencing this return. Gen Z has grown up in an era defined by constant connectivity, global crises, and unstable futures. In this environment, religion offers something increasingly rare: structure, predictability, and moral grounding. Faith communities provide spaces where identity is not curated for an audience, but lived in shared presence.

Churches that have adapted to these realities are seeing the strongest engagement. Those offering mentorship, mental health conversations, peer networks, and opportunities for service are resonating deeply with Gen Z. For many young attendees, the appeal lies not only in belief, but in the sense of belonging and care that comes from being part of an in-person community.

Unlike earlier generations that often rejected organised religion as rigid or irrelevant, Gen Z tends to approach faith pragmatically. Attendance is less about obligation and more about purpose. Religion is being used as a framework for meaning-making, discipline, and resilience in a world that often feels unstable and overwhelming.

Digital exhaustion has also played a role in this shift. After years of living online, many Gen Z individuals are actively seeking spaces that are slower, quieter, and more human. In-person worship, shared rituals, and moments of reflection offer relief from constant performance and comparison. In that sense, religious spaces have become one of the few remaining environments where presence matters more than visibility.

This renewed engagement does not necessarily signal a return to rigid or exclusionary belief systems. Many Gen Z participants favour inclusive, socially conscious faith communities aligned with values such as compassion, service, and justice. Their relationship with religion remains questioning and selective, but deeply intentional.

Gen Z’s return to faith is not a revival of the past, but a reimagining of belief for the present. It reflects a generation searching for stability, meaning, and connection—proof that in times of uncertainty, the pull toward community and purpose remains as strong as ever.