Meet the teens speaking to Pope Leo XIV at upcoming National Catholic Youth Conference

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 12, 2025 / 14:24 pm

A group of teens will speak with the Holy Father during a digital encounter at the upcoming National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis.

Pope Leo XIV will hold a 45-minute digital dialogue with young people from across the United States during the Nov. 20–22 NCYC, hosted by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). The pope will speak at 10:15 a.m. ET on Nov. 21 and answer questions from a group of high school students.

This marks the first time in history that a pope will directly engage with U.S. youth in a live digital encounter. Eight teens have had the opportunity to participate in planning the digital conversation, and five of them will get the chance to speak directly with the Holy Father.

Mia Smothers, Elise Wing, Christopher Pantelakis, Micah Alcisto, and Ezequiel Ponce will ask Pope Leo questions next week as thousands of teens gather in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Claire Vitellaro, America Cruz, and Nate Hollinden have also had a voice in the event and will ask questions if the other students are unable to.

Mia Smothers

Mia Smothers, a high school freshman from Joppa, Maryland, is the youngest teen selected to speak with the pontiff. Growing up in a large family has taught her patience and teamwork, she said. Her parents have encouraged her to stay grounded in faith and to serve others.

Smothers is the second of 10 children and said she hopes her faith and NCYC experience will set a good example for her younger siblings. She wants to show them how wonderful it is to know and love God.

As a parishioner at St. Francis De Sales, Smothers serves as an altar server and helps with Vacation Bible School and youth group. She also participates in cheer, choir, and Helping Hands Club at her school and enjoys reading, dancing, singing, and doodling.

Elise Wing

Elise Wing is a high school senior from Waterloo, Iowa, who says she enjoys nature and coffee.

Wing is usually busy with speech, theater, competitive swimming, and serving her parish community at St. Edward’s. She said she loves to have bonfires and game nights with friends and go on road trips with her family.

Her Catholic faith is the lens through which she sees the world, she said. She said she is inspired daily by St. Thérèse of Lisieux — her confirmation saint. Wing said she is looking forward to going on a pilgrimage to Rome, Florence, and Assisi in Italy this spring and is excited to represent faithful teens at NCYC next week.

Christopher Pantelakis

Christopher Pantelakis, or Chris, is a high school junior who was born and raised in Mesquite, Nevada. Pantelakis said he gets his inspiration from young people who go out in the world to make it a better place.

For fun, Chris said he loves watching sports and participating in any athletic activity. Recently his soccer team at Virgin Valley High School qualified for state. His favorite soccer team is Chelsea in England, which he hopes to watch play in person someday.

Micah Alcisto

Born and raised in Honolulu, Micah Alciso said he enjoys playing baseball, working out, fishing, and going to the beach. The high school senior is a leader in his community serving as a member of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, LIFE team, and Catholic Honors Society.

Seeing how God continues to work in his life and in the lives of others inspires Alciso, he said. Even in hard times, he said experiences with God remind him he is not alone.

Keeping his faith strong and at the center of his life is important to Chris as he said he believes it will guide his career, relationships, education, and family.

Ezequiel Ponce

Ezequiel Ponce is a high school senior from Downey, California. He has a brother and sister who introduced him to St. Dominic Savio Parish, where he serves as a summer camp counselor and helps lead youth group.

Ponce said he sees his parish as his home and loves participating in the community and growing in his faith. He shares the same birthday as his favorite saint — St. John Bosco on Aug. 16.

Doing community work with kids led him to find a passion for teaching, he said. Ponce teaches at a middle school for one period of his school schedule every day.

Ponce, who will ask the pope a question, said in an Nov.11 interview with NFCYM that it is “an honor and a great privilege to … talk to the Holy Father.” He added: “It makes me feel like my voice is heard and … that the youth of America’s voice is heard.”

“It is very reassuring that the Holy Father wants to indulge in dialogue with the youth,” Ponce said.

Claire Vitellaro

Claire Vitellaro is a high school senior from the suburbs of Chicago who said she loves horseback riding and traveling. She said she stays active in her community by participating in flag football, theater, youth group, and as a member of her school’s pro-life club.

Recently Vitellaro said her faith is growing deeper, which she attributed to a recent mission trip and her involvement in youth group.

In an interview with NCYC organizers, Vitellaro said the experience to hear from the Holy Father is “a beautiful opportunity” for youth. Through the planning process they have looked into: “What are the questions and concerns of the youth today?”

Vitellaro said what is meaningful about the experience is that “it is a dialogue, not a Q and A.” She added: “We hope this conversation seeks connection and understanding.”

America Cruz

America Cruz said he enjoys going on hikes because they help him reset and feel more connected to God. Cruz is a high school senior born and raised in Southern California. He serves as a peer minister for his church’s youth ministry at Sacred Heart in Lancaster.

Cruz has an older sister and a younger brother, who is attending NCYC with him. He said he plans to pursue a career in the U.S. military or as a paramedic or firefighter. He said he hopes to one day become a college professor and possibly work in politics, and his ultimate goal is to help people in need.

Cruz said his biggest inspiration is his mom, who inspires him to grow closer to Christ.

Nate Hollinden

Nate Hollinden, a sophomore in high school, participates in cross country, swimming, track and field, the Tell City Marching Band, St. Paul Impact Youth Group, and is president of his school’s Spanish Club.

In Tell City, Indiana, he serves as a community leader as a member of student council and Key Club. He said he enjoys watching football, hanging out with his friends, and playing music. He can play 13 different instruments.

Faith is the most important part of Hollinden’s life, he said. Seeing people’s reaction to kindness and respect inspires him to grow in his faith, he said, as it is what Jesus taught us to do.

Katie McGrady, Catholic author, speaker, and radio host who will serve as the NCYC event moderator, said: “As we’ve prepared these teens to ask a question of the Holy Father, I’ve been struck by how excited they are to get to represent their peers in this moment. Their openness to dialogue, with each other and with adults who have helped prepare this moment, has inspired me to remember that the young Church is the Church of now, not tomorrow.”