FR
EN
3 min
Thousands of young people from all over the world gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday morning. Pope Francis celebrated a Mass especially for them, during which he confirmed 44 young people selected from dioceses representing the five continents. This Mass for those being confirmed took on its full significance in this Year of Faith.
“The newness that God brings is nothing like the new fashions of the world, which are merely temporary, go out of fashion and only make us want to seek out ever more. The newness that God brings to our lives is definitive. And so let us open the door to him.” This is what the Pope said during the homily at this Mass, celebrated under splendid spring sunshine after several days of grey, rainy and rather chilly weather. One might well think that Pope Francis, since the beginning of his pontificate, has struck a deal with the heavens.
“Allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our dark corners
” “The Church’s journey,” added the Pope, “and our journey as Christians, are not always easy; they encounter difficulties.” “Following the Lord, allowing his Spirit to transform our dark corners, is a journey strewn with obstacles—not only outside us, in the world, but also within us.” “But all these ‘tribulations’ are part of the journey towards the glory of God.”
The Pope urged young people to “swim against the tide, for God gives us the courage to do so” and “difficulties and misunderstandings must not frighten you”. “With God, we can achieve great things.” And it was with John Paul II’s famous phrase from the beginning of his pontificate in 1978 that Pope Francis concluded his homily: “Dear friends, let us throw wide open the door of our lives to the newness of God, who gives us the Holy Spirit, so that he may transform us, make us strong in the face of difficulties, and strengthen our union with the Lord. And this will be a true joy.”
At the end of Mass, the Pope made a point of greeting, one by one, the 44 young people he had just confirmed. He asked each of them their name and where they were from. Standing alongside the Pope was Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation, who had organised the event and was very familiar with the journeys of these young people invited to Rome for their confirmation. One young girl said: “Most Holy Father, this is the most important day of my life.”
