Surprise: Pope Hears Confession of Teens in St. Peter’s Square.

Surprise: Pope Hears Confession of Teens in St. Peter’s Square.

Sixteen Teenage Boys, Girls Were Chosen at Random to Tell Sins to Holy Father

APRIL 25, 2016
ZENIT STAFF
POPE AND HOLY SEE

Pope Francis has surprised young people this Saturday by appearing in St. Peter’s Square and listening to their confessions.

According to Vatican Radio, the Holy Father made this unexpected visit as many young people gathered in the Vatican Saturday, which marked the Jubilee for Teens, offering 13 to 16 year-olds from around the world the chance to reflect on the theme “Merciful like the Father.”

Several thousand of them traveled to Rome for the event and were in the Square when the Pope unexpectedly arrived to hear confessions, along with another 150 priests, beneath the colonnade in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.

While many enthusiastic, banner-waving young people were participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation before making their way through the Holy Door, sixteen teenage boys and girls were chosen randomly to confess to the Holy Father.

Earlier this year, in preparation for this Jubilee event, the Pope wrote a message telling young people: “Don’t just prepare your rucksacks and your banners – but your hearts and minds as well.” Yesterday, Pope Francis personally addressed these hearts and minds when he celebrated the Jubilee Mass for them in St. Peter’s Square.