In a surprising and personal revelation, Pope Leo XIV has shared the secret behind his daily Wordle game, telling a virtual gathering of young American Catholics that he uses a different starting word every single day.
A Pontiff's Gaming Secret Revealed
The Chicago-born pontiff made the unexpected disclosure during a videoconference Q&A session with the National Catholic Youth Conference on Friday, 21 November 2025. The event, held in Indianapolis, was broadcast to the pontiff at the Vatican via the US Catholic network EWTN.
When asked about his approach to the popular New York Times online puzzle, Pope Leo played along, revealing his unconventional tactic. "I use a different word for Wordle every day, so there’s no set starting word," he said. This insight into his daily routine came after his brother, John Prevost, had previously disclosed that the Pope maintains a daily Wordle habit and that the two siblings keep in touch by comparing their scores.
Balancing Faith and Technology in the Modern World
Following the light-hearted Wordle reveal, the hour-long encounter shifted to more serious, albeit somewhat scripted, topics. Pope Leo fielded prepared questions from conference participants, specifically addressing technology's powerful hold on young people.
A former Twitter user himself, the Pope acknowledged that social media is a great way to stay connected and even deepen one's faith. However, he issued a firm warning, stating it can never replace genuine human relationships. He urged the youth to follow the example of St. Carlo Acutis, a teenage Catholic influencer canonised earlier this year who was known for setting strict limits on his screen time.
"Be intentional with your screen time," Pope Leo advised. "Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around."
A Cautious Approach to Artificial Intelligence
The pontiff also applied this principle of mindful usage to artificial intelligence, a topic he has marked as a priority concern. He described AI as a powerful tool but cautioned the young audience that they must learn to use it responsibly, ensuring it does not interfere with their development into adults capable of making independent choices.
"Using AI responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow," he told them. "AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence." He concluded with a moment of levity, adding, "And don’t ask it to do your homework for you," a remark that was met with laughter from the crowd.
The discussion, which covered the future of the Catholic Church alongside technology, provided a rare glimpse into the Pope's personal habits and his thoughtful perspective on navigating the digital age.
