Pope sets example by going to confession

March 29, 2014 - Leading a penitential service in St. Peter's Basilica, Thursday evening, Pope Francis surprised everybody by going to a priest for confession during the service. After an examination of conscience, the pope and 61 priests moved into confessionals or to chairs set up against the walls to offer the sacrament to individual penitents. Before hearing the confession of others, Pope Francis himself went to a priest in a confessional to confess his sins. The penitential service was the start of an initiative called, "24 Hours for the Lord," sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. Dioceses around the world were asked to have at least one parish open all day and night, starting March 28, so that anyone could go to confession and take part in Eucharistic adoration.

In his homily, the pope said following God's call to conversion is not supposed to happen only during Lent, but is a lifetime commitment. He also spoke about two key characteristics of Christian life: putting on a "new self, created in God's way" and living in and sharing God's love. He pointed out it’s not merely in not stealing, but more in sharing what one has with others, especially the needy; not merely in not giving in to anger, rancour and revenge, but rather by being meek, magnanimous and ready to forgive; not merely by avoiding malicious gossip, but by looking mainly for the good side in everyone." Secondly, the Pope said God never tires of looking out for his children, both those lost and those faithful. Jesus, in fact, calls on everyone to imitate this same merciful love and become "credible disciples of Christ in the world," he said.