Confession

The Latest

What can priests practically do to combat the porn epidemic?

Dec 19, 2017

By Mary Farrow

Online pornography is one of the fastest growing addictions in the United States, on par with cocaine and gambling.  Read more

Catholic Church in Australia commits to ensuring justice for sex abuse victims

Dec 15, 2017

In a wide-ranging report released Friday, Australia’s royal commission found serious failings in the protection of children from abuse in... Read more

Confessional.

Australian priest rips confession proposal as government 'intrusion'

Aug 24, 2017

By Elise Harris

An Australian priest has called the Royal Commission's recent proposal to enforce law requiring that clergy face criminal charges if... Read more

Pope Francis goes to Confession during a penitential celebration at St. Peter's Basilica, March 28, 2014.

Pope Francis goes to confession

Mar 17, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

At the end of his annual Lenten penitential service on Friday, Pope Francis was the first to go to the... Read more

Jubilee audience in St. Peter's Square with Pope Francis on Nov. 12, 2016.

Pope Francis: Don't whitewash your sins – let God heal you

Dec 5, 2016

By Hannah Brockhaus

As Christmas approaches, don't downplay your sins, Pope Francis said. Instead, name them honestly in the Sacrament of Confession, open... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for a Jubilee audience on November 12, 2016.

Prepare for Christmas by conversion, Pope tells Advent Angelus crowd

Dec 4, 2016

The proclamation of John the Baptist to “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand” is a joyful one... Read more

Priests concelebrate with Pope Francis during the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica March 24, 2016.

Pope extends Jubilee mandate on abortion, SSPX confession

Nov 21, 2016

Although the Jubilee of Mercy has ended, Pope Francis has decided that some of the novelties he applied in the... Read more

Colombian Confess-a-thon at a Bogota Mall.

'Confess-a-thon' returns to Colombian mall, draws 120 priests

Oct 22, 2016

For two days this week, a shopping mall in Bogota, Colombia was transformed into a “Confess-a-thon,” as 120 priests administered... Read more

Confessional.

Louisiana court upholds priest's 'seal of confession' rights

Aug 3, 2016

A state appeals court in Louisiana reaffirmed that Catholic priests cannot be forced by law to violate the seal of... Read more

Pope Francis greets members of the military, armed forces and firefighters during his Jubilee general audience April 30, 2016.

Let yourselves be reconciled with God, Pope Francis says

Apr 30, 2016

By Elise Harris

Reconciliation is an essential aspect of God’s mercy, Pope Francis said Saturday, explaining that when we distance ourselves from the... Read more

Pope Francis hears confessions of teenagers in St. Peter's Square.

Pope hears confessions at Jubilee event for teens

Apr 23, 2016

Pope Francis on Saturday heard the confessions of young people in St. Peter's Square as part of this weekend's Jubilee... Read more

Penitential celebration with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica on March 4, 2016.

God did not create us to remain crushed by sin, Pope says

Mar 4, 2016

By Elise Harris

Leading his annual penitential service on Friday, Pope Francis told attendees to stand tall and be open to forgiveness, and... Read more

Friar Roberto.

This 95-year-old priest walked three miles while hearing confessions

Mar 3, 2016

A 95-year-old priest named Friar Roberto walked more than three-and-a-half miles while hearing confessions during a recent “Penitential Walk” in... Read more

Pope Francis goes to confession as part of a penitential Mass at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on March 28, 2014.

Pope Francis will hear confessions on Friday at St. Peter's

Mar 2, 2016

The office of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations has announced that Pope Francis will hear confessions from the faithful at St. Peter’s... Read more

Why this diocese is holding a 24 hour confess-a-thon

Feb 24, 2016

By Kevin J. Jones

Priests will be available for confession throughout a special 24-hour period in the Diocese of Bismarck to help celebrate the... Read more

Pope Francis listens to confessions on July 26, 2013 during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

How to be a great confessor – Pope Francis' advice for priests

Feb 9, 2016

Priests who are good confessors must recognize their own sins in order to forgive and comfort penitents, Pope Francis said... Read more

'Confess-a-thon' at Colombian mall draws 350 priests

Oct 14, 2015

In the South American nation of Colombia – where an estimated 70 percent of the population identifies as Catholic –... Read more

Pope Francis delivers an Angelus address in St. Peter's Square, June 15, 2015.

Pope: In Confession we encounter God's immense mercy

Aug 2, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Delivering his weekly Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Pope Francis said that while everyone feels shame before... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Dec. 3, 2014.

This Lent, the Pope has a message for lapsed Catholics: It's never too late

Feb 27, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Fallen away Catholics are being invited to “come home” this Lent through a worldwide initiative led by Pope Francis, which... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his Wednesday general audience on June 18, 2014.

Confession isn't the 'dry-cleaners' – it's an embrace from God

Jan 23, 2015

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said that confessing our sins isn't a “mechanical” procedure like getting a stained removed but rather a joyful... Read more