Pope hears confessions of the Young: 'You are temples of the Holy Spirit'

"This evening, the Holy Spirit will descend into our hearts to forgive our sins and renew us interiorly, giving us a strength that will make us, like the apostles, bold in proclaiming that Christ has died and is risen," he said

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - By confessing our sins, we open our hearts to God and prepare to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Pope Benedict XVI told thousands of young people from Rome before hearing individual confessions.

"Through the action of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the church," the pope said, the sacrament of reconciliation brings "pardon and peace."

Pope Benedict's penance service with the young people in St. Peter's Basilica March 13 was held in preparation for the Palm Sunday diocesan celebration of World Youth Day and looking ahead to the July 15-20 international celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.

The World Youth Day 2008 theme is "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses."

In his homily, the pope said the Holy Spirit cannot be seen and the degree of the Spirit's presence in a person cannot be measured, but the Holy Spirit "changes and renews" one's whole life.

"This evening, the Holy Spirit will descend into our hearts to forgive our sins and renew us interiorly, giving us a strength that will make us, like the apostles, bold in proclaiming that Christ has died and is risen," he said.

Pope Benedict urged the young people, "Always remember that you are 'temples of the Holy Spirit.'"

"Let him live in you and docilely obey his indications in order to make your contribution to building up his church," the pope said. He added that the young people can do this particularly by praying about whether God is calling them to the priesthood or religious life or to be Catholic spouses and parents.

After the homily, seven young people led their peers in an examination of conscience looking at ways they may have betrayed the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.

Among other things, the young people asked themselves about ignoring the wise teachings of the church; being satisfied with the superficial; not bringing peace to their families, schools and workplaces; not accepting immigrants; not allowing themselves and their passions to be guided by the church; not being honest and faithful in relationships; not responding to God's love with concrete acts of charity; and "the impure use of our bodies."

After the examination of conscience, the pope and 55 priests who hear confessions daily in the basilicas of Rome, moved into confessionals or to chairs set up against the walls to offer the sacrament to individual penitents.

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The pope, dressed in a simple white alb and purple stole, spent almost 45 minutes hearing confessions.

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