Youth and adult leaders from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah pose with a cardboard cutout of Pope Leo XIV and form the “Y” letter for “NCYC” at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Teen parishioner Therese Watson, who was present for the digital encounter with Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 21, is second from the left. COURTESY OF THERESE WATSON

A conversation with Therese Watson, present during Pope Leo XIV’s virtual encounter

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Note: Therese Watson, a 12th-grade homeschool youth who belongs to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah, was one of the teens selected to be present for the live, digital encounter with Pope Leo XIV during the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis in November 2025. Below, Therese shares about her experience. This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Q: Was this your first NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference)? 

A: This was not my first NCYC; I also had the opportunity to attend during my sophomore year in 2023.

Q: What was the process of your being selected to be one of the youth in the NCYC audience with the pope? 

A: Although I am uncertain exactly how the selection process worked, I can tell you the extent of my knowledge. I believe Robin Tomes (the Diocese of Owensboro’s administrative assistant for youth ministry) contacted my parish’s family life minister, Ben Teer, asking if there was a youth who would like to participate in the papal dialogue. He chose to ask me, and I said yes. 

Q: What was that morning like, leading up to the virtual call with Pope Leo?

A: It started very early in the morning, and I am grateful to the chaperones for getting me there on time. Upon meeting the other participants, the air was filled with anticipation and excitement. We became quick friends, bonded by our mutual awe at this amazing opportunity. Furthermore, I enjoyed sharing how we each came to be selected. Soon, it was time for us to find our seats, and the excitement rose to a roar when Pope Leo finally appeared on screen. It was an incredible experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

Q: What thoughts were going through your head during the virtual conversation with Pope Leo?

A: The main thought running through my brain was how grateful and astounded I was to be chosen to play such a big role in Pope Leo’s first dialogue and in representing all the youth of the United States of America. I was also struck by how human and American Pope Leo sounded. The title “Successor of Peter” can be daunting and can cause me to forget the humanity of the Church’s head. 

Q: Did you have any other big highlights of your NCYC experience this year? 

A: Honestly, the top highlight would be how many kids were at NCYC. Seeing so many youth from around the nation reminded me of how the Church is united, not separated by state or country borders. 

Q: How did this experience with Pope Leo strengthen your faith? How do you plan to live out your faith more vibrantly in your parish, family, and community? 

A: What stuck with me most was Pope Leo saying that the youth is not the future Church, but the present Church. While the youth will grow into our next generation of priests, religious, leaders, mothers, fathers, and saints, we are also the Church now. In only 45 minutes, Pope Leo helped over 16,000 people realize that they don’t have to wait to be great, and that number doesn’t even include the at-home viewers. The power that he gave to everyone in the stadium was incredible and pushed me forward to lead with love. While I may not know specifically what I plan to do to live my faith more fully in my community, I do know that I will do my best to daily follow God’s will, and give more of myself to others.

Originally printed in the January 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.