Surrounded by the intricate woodwork and religious symbols at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, 35 Northwestern students joined 400 area college students to celebrate Pope John Paul II’s recent message of reconciliation for the Middle East.

Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago, said members of the Catholic Church need to repent during the Lent season, which lasts 40 days and will end April 23 at Easter. He said Catholic college students have an important role in spreading the pope’s message of forgiveness.

“In a half hour, the archbishop tied in topics of human sexuality, forgiveness and Catholicism in a smooth sermon,” said Edwin Ramos, a Weinberg sophomore. “It was definitely out of this world.”

The church is celebrating “Jubilee 2000,” in which the pope is emphasizing reconciliation for several controversial past policies, including its role during the Holocaust and the Crusades.

“In the Jubilee year, all travelers are to go home, and all debts are to be forgiven,” said Jason Renken, communications chairman for NU’s Catholic Undergrads.

College students are a key component of this mission, Renken said. Tuesday’s Mass was designed specifically for college students as an attempt to unite Chicago’s Catholic student community.

But the theme of everyday forgiveness took center stage because the event was called “70 x 7” — an allusion to a Biblical instruction for the number of times people need to forgive each other.

“The idea of ’70 x 7′ is that forgiveness is ongoing and shouldn’t have limits,” said Neela Kale, a Weinberg senior.

Father Ken Simpson, director of Sheil Catholic Center, said the cardinal’s message carries weight in the NU community.

“The idea of forgiveness is something that can build a network of peace,” Simpson said. “Understanding your own need for forgiveness gives you the true freedom to forgive others.”

Renken said the importance of the cardinal’s ideas extends beyond the Chicago area.

“The message of forgiveness in general is crucial to the Catholic community worldwide,” Renken said. “It brings the realization that we’re all humans and need to forgive and repent.”

Renken said he was encouraged by the number of students who attended the Mass.

“You could see that we were all Catholics together and that there are other students beyond the walls of Northwestern that we can identify with and share the idea of forgiveness,” Renken said.

Added Ramos: “It was very inspiring to see other college students at the Mass. The atmosphere motivates me to try to start anew in the Lent season.”