Nevada Delegation Participates in Historic NCYC With Pope Leo XIV

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Nov. 22, 2025) — A delegation of approximately 65 young people and adult leaders from the Archdiocese of Las Vegas traveled to Indianapolis this week for the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), joining more than 16,000 teens from across the country for days of prayer, worship, service, and fellowship under the theme “I Am.” The Las Vegas group included teens from St. Joseph, Husband of Mary; St. John Neumann; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; St. John Paul II; and La Virgen de Guadalupe in Mesquite.

Among them was Christopher Pantelakis, a high school student from southern Nevada, who took the national stage in a particularly memorable way. Pantelakis was one of only five teens selected nationwide to take part in a historic moment: the first live digital encounter between Pope Leo XIV and young Catholics in the United States. The 45-minute dialogue was broadcast from the Vatican directly into Lucas Oil Stadium, where thousands watched the Holy Father respond to questions submitted by teens.

Pantelakis asked a question that resonated deeply with young people both in the stadium and watching online. Acknowledging the temptation to “endlessly scroll,” he asked Pope Leo how teens can balance technology with real relationships, faith, and community.

Pope Leo affirmed that digital tools can support prayer, Scripture study, and evangelization, but stressed that they must remain secondary to authentic human connection, sacramental life, and time spent with God. He urged teenagers to be intentional, disciplined, and rooted in practices that bring them into real encounter with Christ and others. He also pointed to Blessed Carlo Acutis, the young Italian teenager known for his digital savvy and holiness, as a model of balance and virtue in a technological world.

The pope’s exchange with Pantelakis was part of a broader conversation that touched on overcoming mistakes, handing worries to Jesus, staying focused in prayer, and nurturing hope for the future of the Church. Pope Leo repeatedly emphasized that young Catholics are not only the future, but the present, calling them to courageous discipleship anchored in parish life, the Eucharist, and confession.

For the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, this moment stood out as a powerful witness to the faith, honesty, and leadership of its young people. Teammates and leaders in the delegation celebrated Pantelakis’ role in giving voice to a challenge shared by many — and in doing so, inviting the Holy Father to speak directly to the digital realities teens navigate each day.

As the Las Vegas delegation returned home, they carried with them the joy of the conference, the encouragement of Pope Leo XIV, and a renewed sense of mission. The witness of youth like Pantelakis will continue to inspire parishes, families, and the wider community as they accompany the next generation of missionary disciples.