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Catholic churches around the world will be participating in a worldwide “confession drive” on Friday as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy celebrations.
In the Vatican, Pope Francis will hear confessions from the faithful at St. Peter’s Basilica as part of a “24 Hours of Reconciliation” initiative in Italy.
In England and Wales, teams of Catholic priests will be available in cathedrals and in some local churches to hear confessions.
“[Confession] is an amazing gift of God, a channel of Grace and mercy, through which we are made whole again, reconciled with God and with others,” said Bishop Mark O’Toole of Plymouth.
“This weekend, there is no reason to be afraid. Come. God loves you unconditionally and the priest is there simply to be a channel of Jesus’s mercy,” added the bishop.
Pope Francis has led several penitential celebrations during his pontificate. During one of them, celebrated on March 28, 2014, he personally went to confession.
“By calling for an attentive listening to the word of God and encouraging the initiative ’24 Hours for the Lord,’ I sought to stress the primacy of prayerful listening to God’s word, especially his prophetic word,” Pope Francis said in his message for this year’s observance of Lent.
“The mercy of God is a proclamation made to the world, a proclamation which each Christian is called to experience at first hand,” he said.
Last month, Pope Francis sent out more than 1,000 ‘missionaries of mercy’ to forgive sins all over the world, including transgressions such as abortion, which is usually reserved for high-ranking officials to absolve.
Sources
Catholic Herald
Catholic News Agency
Christian Today
Image: CNS/Catholic Herald
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