Thousands of young people from across Italy and the rest of the world stand in orderly rows, sitting down in the shade as they listen to each other. Some smile, while others lower their gaze. This is the moment of confession. A time when heavy hearts become lighter, words become truth and the soul finds peace. In the historic setting of Rome’s Circus Maximus, local traffic stops to welcome the stories, struggles and aspirations of these young pilgrims. In this place filled with grace, the mystery of the encounter between human fragility and God’s mercy becomes a tangible reality through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Francesca is here from Altamura, a town near Bari. She is still slightly sleepy: “We arrived at 7am.
The first thing we did was confession, to make for a good start.”
Her desire to initiate a new phase is evident in her words. Confession is “liberating”, a “weight off your shoulders”, she says. And while there is sometimes “a certain anxiety before entering”, afterwards that feeling changes completely. “It comes naturally.Every priest has a different way of offering his welcome, but it is always a beautiful experience.”
Daniele, from the town of Frosinone, began his Jubilee journey in the same way: “This is the most important moment. Without reconciliation, this journey risks losing its meaning. It’s a fundamental step, a time of purification. Daniele opens up about the difficulty of revealing his innermost thoughts:
“It’s not easy. You find yourself talking to a man and wondering why you are there. The truth is, you’re not just talking to him. When you understand that, everything changes. It’s a progression of small steps that slowly improve your life.”
Francisco is a Salesian priest from Mexico currently enrolled as a student in Rome.
“Confession is when you disclose your innermost self to God – he says – where you can embrace your vulnerability and experience unconditional love where it hurts the most.
I rediscovered in confession that God never lost faith in me when I had lost faith in myself. It is a comforting and transformative mystery.”
Stefano is from Sassari. He started his pilgrimage on Monday. He sees reconciliation as “an encounter.” It is an intimate dialogue with God wherein we can express everything, including things we would not tell anyone else.”
Father Cristiano arrived with young people from the French Catholic parish in London. “This is a moment dedicated to healing. Reconciliation means rebuilding our relationship with God, as well as with ourselves and others.” And
Young people need this grace to bring hope to the world.”
This is precisely the theme of the Jubilee: to be witnesses of hope. It is a great challenge at a time marked by war, fear and confusion. And yet these young people strongly believe in this hope.
Francesca says, “To me, hope is love in all its forms. Good relationships are the key. I wish love upon everyone.” Daniele echoes this sentiment: “Even in the darkest moments in history, there has been hope, so why shouldn’t we believe in it too? We can build something good.” They demonstrate this through the hugs they exchange with strangers, the tears they wipe from each other’s faces and the way they sit in front of a priest and talk about themselves openly. These young people speak different languages and come from different cultures and backgrounds, yet they are united by the same desire to feel welcomed and forgiven and to be called to a full life. What is taking place here at the Circus Maximus is not just an event. It is a silent revolution. Young people’s hearts are stirred and the past is set aside here, allowing the future to take shape in the secrecy of confession. They are experiencing a soul-touching Jubilee. Reconciliation lies at the heart of this journey, and these young people — so genuine and authentic — prove that hope is not an illusion. It is a choice. As Daniele defines it, it is a daily exercise. It is an outstretched hand that is saying ‘I forgive you’, ‘I’ll make a new start’. God never stops believing in us. Today, Rome is witnessing all of this. The city’s cobblestone streets, its churches and the Circus Maximus have never witnessed so much beauty.
