Pope Francis: Confirmation not a sacrament of farewell from the Church

According to Pope Francis, the sacrament of confirmation must not be a kind of "last rites". "If baptism is the sacrament of birth, confirmation is the sacrament of growth," said the Pope on Wednesday at the general audience in St Peter's Square. Some said that Confirmation was the sacrament of leaving the Church and that young people would not return until their wedding at the earliest. "But it is the beginning of an active commitment to the Church," said the 87-year-old. This goal must be pursued further, even if this may seem impossible to some in view of the current situation of the church.

The Pope went on to say that non-ordained Catholics should also pass on their personal experience of faith when preparing for confirmation. Some people had experienced the sacrament of confirmation as a young person as a blossoming. Christians should pass on the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that everyone can enjoy these fruits.

Francis also wished for a pinch of Olympic fervour for the Holy Year 2025. For the major Catholic event, Christians should "shake off the ashes of habit and inactivity in order to carry on the flame of the Holy Spirit like the torchbearers at Olympia", said the head of the Church. (tmg/KNA)