The Catholic act of penance is typically conducted in private, within the walls of a confessional box, but last month, 16 teenagers confessed their sins before thousands of Christians, as they sat down on chairs before Pope Francis in the middle of St. Peter’s Square, while hundreds of others confessed theirs to 150 priests who had been deployed around the venue to hear confessions from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Their confessions came as part of an unexpected opportunity, after the pontiff decided to make a surprise appearance for a special youth day in the Holy Year at the Vatican, Italy on April 23.
To mark the Jubilee, which started in December 2015 and will continue till November this year, Francis and each of the 16 teenagers sat down facing one another so those around the famed Colonnade of Bernini could listen to their confessions that lasted a little over an hour. The teenagers appeared to be at ease, with the pontiff warmly holding their hands through their confessions and cheerily departing with the phrase ‘ciao ragazzi’ meaning ‘bye guys’.
Pope Francis has dedicated the Holy Year to two major subjects for his papacy – reconciliation and mercy. An event titled Jubilee for Teens was organized on Saturday as part of the celebrations for the Extraordinary Year of Mercy. The three-day program attracted as many as 70,000 teenagers from Italy and across the world.
The celebrations kicked off the previous day, with a pilgrimage being made through the Holy Door. The door of the basilica has been opened for the duration of the Jubilee as under Catholic tradition, walking through a holy door allows believers certain privileges during this time.
After their confessions, several teenagers traveled to the Olympic Stadium in Rome to receive a video message from the pontiff before attending a rock and rap concert at the same venue. On Sunday, the youngsters returned to St Peter’s Square for a mass that was presided over by the Pope.
The Holy Year is a time when Christians are encouraged to reflect on their religious beliefs and renew their relationship with the Almighty.
April 23 also marks the Catholic Feast of St George, a namesake of the Pope, whose birth name happens to be Jorge Mario Bergoglio. To celebrate this occasion, the Vatican presented the pontiff with a massive cake made from organic hazelnuts and fine pistachios. The cake, featuring the 3rd century Christian martyr, St George, in a horseman’s outfit as he trains to kill the legendary dragon, constituted a special glycemic recipe to match the Pope’s dietary requirements.
Photo Credits: Australian Broadcasting Company
