Pope Leo XIV encourages young people of the Italian Archdiocese of Genoa to keep their enthusiasm and commitment to Christ after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.
By Devin Watkins
As around 1,000 young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Genoa in northern Italy made a pilgrimage to Rome, Pope Leo XIV met with them on Saturday to encourage their desire to follow Christ.
The young people have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, which completes the sacraments of initiation and seals the baptized person with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In his off-the-cuff remarks, Pope Leo said one of the greatest joys of every Bishop is the opportunity to celebrate Confirmations, since it is “truly the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
“It is very beautiful to receive this Sacrament,” he said, “because the fullness of the Holy Spirit gives us enthusiasm, strength, and the ability to follow Jesus Christ, to say “Yes” to the Lord always, and not to be afraid to follow courageously, to live the faith in a world that so often wants to lead us far from Jesus.”
He noted that next Sunday, May 24, marks Pentecost Sunday, when the Church recalls the experience of the first disciples, who received the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the love of God.
Pope Leo XIV speaks off-the-cuff to the Confirmands (@Vatican Media)
Each of the Confirmands, said the Pope, is called to be a participant in the Church’s mission and is sent to their friends and families to bear witness to the “Spirit who lives in us.”
Just as Confirmation marks a great joy for Bishops, it often brings them sadness, he said, since many young people never set foot in the church again, disappearing from their parishes.
Pope Leo therefore appealed to young Catholics to pay special attention to the Holy Spirit’s gift of perseverance, so that they live their faith together.
“Do not forget what you have lived in this time,” he said. “May your joy in coming to Rome to celebrate together and pray together live in your hearts, and may you continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and persevere in the faith.”
Pope Leo XIV takes a selfie with one of the Confirmands (@Vatican Media)
As they return to their parishes, the Pope invited them to participate in the many activities and opportunities offered so that they can live in community.
“We do not live the faith alone; we live it together,” he said. “And forming these relationships of friendship and community is a way to live perseverance as disciples of Jesus.”
Finally, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the young Confirmands from Genoa to enjoy this moment of grace as they receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and maintain it throughout their lives.
“It is very important,” he said, “that each one of you also make this commitment, this promise to the Lord: that you truly want to continue as His friends, His disciples, His missionaries, and that you want to persevere in the faith.”