Each May, the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement commemorates a special date that lies at the heart of its mission for the Church and the world: May 31. Our Third Historical Milestone (1949) speaks to us about cultivating healthy bonds— with God, with oneself, and with others.
In a society marked by fragile and “liquid” connections, an inevitable question arises: how can we cultivate deep and lasting bonds? And, even more so: with whom is it worth building those bonds?
These were precisely the concerns that a young Italian man recently presented to Pope Leo XIV.
In the latest issue of the magazine Piazza San Pietro (No. 5, May 2026), the Holy Father’s response was published, in which he offers four practical tips for strengthening authentic bonds:
daily prayer;
listening to the Word of God;
celebrating the sacraments;
engaging in dialogue with wise people.
Below are the messages exchanged between Pope Leo XIV and the young man Pietro, as published by the magazine:
“Dear Pope, I fear I cannot understand what the authentic bonds are that are worth preserving”
Most Beloved Holy Father,
I am Pietro, an 18-year-old student. I live in Reggio Calabria (Italy) and am in my final year of high school. At this moment, as I come to the end of an important journey—my five years of high school—I feel a great deal of anxiety and confusion, primarily about the relationships and bonds I have built during this time. I am afraid of losing all the friendships I have made in this chapter of my life, not only at school but also in the parish and in my daily life. A phase of profound change is opening up before me, beginning with the choice of a university, which, in a certain way, marks the transition to a new stage of life. In my relationship with the Lord, I feel His constant presence, which, nevertheless, makes me long for new answers about what my path will be.
Your Holiness, I dream of building and bringing to life the vision of a family united in the love of Christ, walking alongside someone on the path of His love; yet, as I said, my confidence in relationships wavers. I fear I may not even be able to discern which bonds are authentic and worth preserving and nurturing, and which are less sincere, ones I can let go of.
Holy Father, for all this and for my near future, I ask you to pray for me so that I may understand how to live with the restlessness and longing that accompany me, and so that I may be able to walk my path serenely, always doing God’s will.
Pietro, from Reggio Calabria
I entrust you to Mary, who, when she was young, kept questions in her heart that were greater than she was
Dearest Pietro,
I read your letter with enthusiasm. In it, I recognize the heart of a young man who is not content with the status quo and takes his life seriously. First, I want to say something that comes before anything else: you are loved by Jesus. Not in an abstract way, but personally, just as you are today, with your doubts and dreams, your fears and desires. That love precedes you and will always accompany you; it does not depend on the choices you make or the paths you take.
Jesus knows the experience of friendship well. He called his disciples friends; with them he broke bread and walked the road; he was a friend to Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. He lived in true and authentic bonds to the point of experiencing the pain of estrangement and betrayal. That is why Jesus would be the first to understand your fear of losing the friendships that have defined these years. For you, not everything will remain the same, but what was authentic is not lost; on the contrary, true love does not fade and remains forever; it matures even as it changes form.
The restlessness you describe is not a negative sign. It is often where God works most deeply. It is like the soil the farmer has plowed, ready to receive new seed. I invite you to listen sincerely to the desires of your heart—not the fleeting ones that melt like snow in the sun, but those that endure the test of time, that bring deep peace and guide you toward choices of goodness, self-giving, and a life shared with others. That is where discernment is born.
Do not rush to understand everything at once. Time is a patient teacher that heals wounds. Daily prayer, even if simple and sparse in words; listening to the Word of God; the celebration of the sacraments; and dialogue with wise people will help you recognize which bonds you must preserve and nurture and which, without judgment, you must prune. Not everything that ends is a defeat: sometimes it is simply a necessary stage for growth.
Your dream of a family founded on the love of Christ is a precious gift to the Church as well; cherish it with confidence. The Lord does not betray the desires He Himself has kindled in the heart.
Rest assured of my prayers. I ask for you the grace of inner peace, trust, and keen insight into your life. I entrust you to Mary, who, even as a young woman, learned to trust, despite keeping questions in her heart that were greater than she was.
Pope Leo XIV
With information from piazzasanpietromagazine.org
Issue No. 5, May 2026
Translation: Maribel Acaron