The Pope was at a gathering of young Catholics in the Vatican last weekend celebrating the Jubilee for Boys and Girls. The jubilee went on for three days which was especially organized for young adults aged 13 to 16 years of age. On that Saturday, April 23, Pope Francis sat on a plastic chair and heard confessions together with about 150 priests for those teenagers in attendance.
It all happened in St. Peter's square and according to the Catholic News Service and the Vatican Press Office, the Pope heard the confessions of 16 teenagers at around noon time for more than an hour.
An Aleteia.org article written by Vatican Radio surmised what the Pope might have said as an introduction to the unsuspecting teenager who was walking to the chair of their confessor and then noticed a man in white robes and a white zucchetto. "Hi, I'm Francis..."
In the Sunday that followed, Pope Francis said in his homily that happiness is not found in a smartphone app or the latest Fall dress but that you are never alone and the Lord is "always with you and is happy to be with you" and that is the ID card of a Christian. He added that "love is a free gift" and "even if you disappoint him and walk away from him, Jesus continues to want the best for you and to remain close to you; he believes in you even more than you believe in yourself.”
Last March during the 24 Hours for the Lord, the Pope also administered the sacrament of reconciliation to people who were at the event.
Maybe I would have stuttered just when I will be saying, "Bless me Father for I have sinned..." I wouldn't mind not having a selfie but him hearing my confession would be humbling indeed.
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