Pope hears confessions, challenges teens not to hold grudges

April 25, 2016

Sixty thousand teenagers participated in the Jubilee of Boys and Girls from April 23 to 25 as part of the extraordinary jubilee year of mercy.

On the morning of April 23, Pope Francis joined 150 other priests who were hearing confessions in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope spent more than an hour hearing 16 confessions from teens who were chosen at random from the confessional line.

Later in the day, a papal video message was shown to the teenagers, who had gathered in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. The Pope called on young people to take part in corporal works of mercy and not to bear grudges.

Anger and a desire for revenge are like “woodworm which eats our soul and doesn’t allow us to be happy,” he said. “Let us forgive! Let us forgive and forget the offense we’ve received, so that we may understand Jesus’ teaching and be his disciples and witnesses of mercy.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis hears confessions of 16 teens in St. Peter's Square (Vatican Radio)
• Videomessaggio di Papa Francesco ai giovani riuniti allo Stadio Olimpico di Roma per il Giubileo dei ragazzi e delle ragazze (23-25 aprile 2016) (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope sends video message to Jubilee for Teens event in Rome (Vatican Radio)
• Sixty thousand young people to celebrate the Jubilee of Boys and Girls in Rome (Holy See Press Office)