The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Séamus Boland was received in private audience by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Saturday, 10 January, “to focus attention on the urgent need for poverty eradication, the safeguarding of democracy, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups across Europe”, according to a statement issued by the EESC in Brussels. “The European Union is one of the wealthiest regions in the world yet 21% of the population remains at risk of poverty and social exclusion”, said President Boland. “We are grateful to Pope Leo for using his powerful voice to spread a message of inclusion and the need to protect the most marginalized. The EU must listen, and we all must do better”. President Boland highlighted the real-world challenges and “emotional scars faced by younger generations” who have been marked by the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressures of social media. Following his meeting with the pontiff, the president stated: “Homelessness, and the housing, cost of living and climate crises are very much felt and feared today, above all by the younger generations”. “Addressing these, tackling youth mental health and fostering their civic engagement are essential to healing, and we very much welcome Pope Leo’s work in this space”.