Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day

Pope Leo XIV revealed to American Catholic youth that he uses a different starting word each day for Wordle, the popular New York Times online puzzle that has captivated millions worldwide.

During a virtual meeting with participants at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis on Friday, the Chicago-born pontiff shared this personal detail before addressing more substantial questions about technology, faith, and the future of the Catholic Church.

“I use a different word for Wordle every day, so there’s no set starting word,” Leo told the young audience via videoconference from the Vatican. The revelation follows earlier comments from the Pope’s brother, John Prevost, who disclosed after Leo’s election in May that the siblings regularly compare their Wordle scores, a common practice among friends and family members who play the game.

The simple yet addictive word puzzle, which challenges players to guess a five-letter word in six attempts without hints, served as an icebreaker for a deeper conversation about technology’s role in young people’s lives.

The Pope spent the remainder of the hour-long session fielding prepared questions from conference participants, particularly focusing on the influence of technology on youth. Drawing from his own experience as a Twitter user before his papal election, Leo acknowledged social media’s value in maintaining connections and potentially deepening faith practices.

However, he cautioned against allowing digital interactions to replace genuine human relationships. “Be intentional with your screen time. Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around,” the Pope advised, encouraging the young Catholics to follow the example of St. Carlo Acutis, a teenage Catholic influencer recently canonized who deliberately limited his screen time to prevent video games from dominating his leisure hours.

Artificial intelligence, which Pope Leo has previously identified as a priority concern of his papacy, also featured prominently in the discussion. He characterized AI as a powerful tool while emphasizing the importance of responsible usage that doesn’t interfere with personal development and decision-making abilities.

“Using AI responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow,” the Pope explained. “AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence.” In a moment of levity that resonated with the young audience, he added, “And don’t ask it to do your homework for you,” drawing laughter from the participants.

This virtual interaction represents part of Pope Leo’s ongoing efforts to connect with younger generations of Catholics, addressing their contemporary concerns while guiding them on integrating faith with modern technological realities. By beginning with a relatable reference to Wordle—a cultural touchpoint that crosses generational lines—the Pope demonstrated his awareness of popular culture while establishing rapport with his young audience.

The National Catholic Youth Conference, an annual gathering for young American Catholics, provided a significant platform for this exchange, allowing the Pope to directly engage with youth from across the United States despite the physical distance.

The virtual meeting was broadcast by EWTN, the U.S. Catholic broadcaster, extending its reach beyond the conference attendees to Catholic households throughout America and potentially worldwide.

The Associated Press’s coverage of this religious event was supported through its collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.