As the Church draws closer to the celebration of the Lord’s Nativity, Pope Leo XIV has offered young people a clear and practical invitation for the Christmas season: make peace with someone close to you. Meeting with young members and leaders of Italian Catholic Action, the Holy Father emphasized that authentic peace begins in the ordinary relationships of daily life.

Addressing the group, Pope Leo reminded them that peace is more valuable than any gift purchased in a store. While the world rightly longs for peace in regions scarred by war and violence, he stressed that harmony and respect are first learned and lived in the home, in parishes, at school, and among friends. Words spoken, gestures chosen, and attitudes formed in these settings all contribute to building or undermining peace. Christmas, he noted, is a privileged time to restore what has been wounded through forgiveness and reconciliation.

Reflecting on the mystery of Christ’s birth, the Pope pointed to Jesus as the Prince of Peace foretold by the prophet Isaiah. The coming of Christ reveals peace not merely as the absence of conflict, but as friendship rooted in justice and truth. This peace is not imposed from the outside, but received and cultivated within the human heart. For this reason, the Pope described the promotion of peace as a distinctly Catholic work, one that bears witness to Christ the Redeemer in a concrete and visible way.

Pope Leo encouraged young people to spend time in prayer before the Nativity scene, a familiar and beloved image in homes, schools, and parishes. In the figures gathered around the newborn Lord, he said, young people can recognize a profound truth of the Gospel: there is room for everyone. This theme, which also guides Catholic Action youth in the coming year, reflects the heart of Christ, who welcomes every person regardless of age or circumstance. Though the Son of God found no room in an inn, He continues to knock on human hearts, opening His own to all with generous love.