Sacrament of Penance
The Latest
Hearing the pope’s confession: Vatican confessor reflects on sacrament
A veteran Vatican confessor spoke about his time as confessor to Pope Francis, stressing the enduring and essential role of... Read more
How to bring peace to the world? Start with sacramental confession, cardinal says
We can take hope in the reconciliation, mercy, and peace of Christ in confession, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza said in a... Read more
Young man after confession with the pope: ‘I told him the sins that pain me the most’
The 21-year-old Spaniard told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, the details of what he considers “the confession of my... Read more
Pope Francis hears young people’s confessions in Lisbon
Pope Francis on Friday heard the confessions of three young people in the Jardim Vasco da Gama, renamed Reconciliation Park... Read more
Catholics, are you going to confession? Watch for these changes
The “essential words” of the priest’s absolution formula have not been changed, but there are “two minor modifications to the... Read more
An expert answers 6 common reasons for not going to confession
Monsignor Krzysztof Nykiel is regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the office of the Roman Curia responsible for issues related to... Read more
The prayer of absolution will change for US Catholics in 2023. Here’s how
The changes are subtle, and the essential formula will stay the same. Read more
Pope Francis: In confession, the priest should guide penitent to holiness
Pope Francis spoke to around 800 priests and seminarians at the end of a course on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Read more
What is the seal of confession? A Q&A with Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
To learn more about the secrecy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we spoke to Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the head of... Read more
Confession must be part of talks on worthiness to receive Communion, Nuncio says
The sacrament of confession must be part of the U.S. bishops’ discussions on worthiness to receive Communion, the Apostolic Nuncio... Read more
Pope Francis: Going to confession is 'abandoning oneself to Love'
Pope Francis said Friday that going to confession is an act of “abandoning oneself to Love,” allowing the God of... Read more
Pope Francis prays for a renewal of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of March is for a renewed experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Read more
Bishops in northeast Italy permit general absolution at Christmas due to pandemic
Catholic bishops in northeast Italy have said that the risk of illness amid the ongoing pandemic constitutes a grave necessity... Read more
'Return home' through the sacrament of confession, Pope Francis urges
Pope Francis spoke Friday about the importance of returning to God, the loving Father, in the sacrament of reconciliation. Read more
Francis: Let us restore Confession ‘to the place it deserves’ in Catholic life
Pope Francis called for the Sacrament of Confession to be elevated in the pastoral life of the Church during a... Read more
Pope Francis: 'Sacramental confession is the way of sanctification'
Pope Francis told priests and seminarians Friday that the sacrament of penance is “the way of sanctification” in which miraculous... Read more
