Pope Francis gives confession during the penitential celebration in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on March 13, 2015. Pope Francis declared an extraordinary jubilee year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a landmark Vatican council and said the Church was bound to continue its reforming work. The year will be dedicated to the theme of mercy and begin on December 8th, the date the Vatican II council closed in 1965, Francis said in St Peter's cathedral on the second anniversary of his election as pope.   AFP PHOTO POOL / ALESSANDRO BIANCHI