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Confession

Pope Francis opens the Holy Doors at St. Peter's Basilica to begin the Year of Mercy, Dec. 8, 2015. / Credit: L'Osservatore Romano

How to Obtain a Plenary Indulgence During the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee Year

May 13, 2024

The decree provides Catholics with the opportunity to gain indulgences by making pilgrimages, prayerfully visiting churches, or practicing works of mercy.

Pope Francis addresses members of the Apostolic Penitentiary on March 8, 2024, in the Clementine Hall in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: The Heart of Repentance is God’s "infinite love," "boundless mercy"

Mar 8, 2024

“Repentance is neither the fruit of self-analysis, nor of a psychic sense of guilt,” the pope said.

Alexander Hoffmann / Shutterstock

Catholics Can Receive a Plenary Indulgence by Praying before a Nativity Scene 

Dec 12, 2023

From Dec. 8 until Feb. 2, Catholics will be able to receive a plenary indulgence by praying before a Nativity scene in a Franciscan church.

Pope Francis confesses in St. Peter's Basilica. | Credit: L’Osservatore Romano

Hearing the Pope’s Confession: Vatican Confessor Reflects on Sacrament

Dec 10, 2023

A veteran Vatican confessor spoke about his time as confessor to Pope Francis, stressing the enduring and essential role of the sacrament.

Pope Francis hears the confession of a young pilgrim at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 4, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Hears Young People’s Confessions in Lisbon

Aug 4, 2023

As part of the Word Youth Day celebrations this week in Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis this morning heard the confessions of three young people in the Jardim Vasco da Gama, renamed Reconciliation Park or “Forgiveness Park” for World Youth Day.

Pope Francis meets Missionaries of Mercy at the Vatican on 25 April 2022. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Expresses Joy at Growth of Missionaries of Mercy Worldwide

Apr 25, 2022

The pope commissioned the first Missionaries of Mercy in 2016.

Pope Francis goes to confession during a penance service in St. Peter's Basilica on March 25, 2022. Vatican Media.

In Confession, Priest to Always Have “as goal universal call to holiness”: Pope Francis

Mar 26, 2022

Pope Francis spoke to around 800 priests and seminarians at the end of a course on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Pope Francis addresses young people at Lokomotiva Stadium in Košice, Slovakia, Sept. 14, 2021. Vatican Media.

Confession is the "sacrament of joy": Pope Francis to Slovakia’s young Catholics

Sep 14, 2021

The pope spoke to around 25,000 young people in Košice, eastern Slovakia.

The Sacrament of Penance (also commonly called the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church.

“No sacraments on Internet”: Ghanaian Bishop on Confession amid COVID-19 Restrictions

Apr 4, 2020

As Catholics in many parts of the world keep away from gatherings including places of worship as a way to curb the spread of COVID-19, a Ghanaian Prelate has, in response to a question raised regarding Confession, explained why the Sacrament of Penance cannot be offered through electronic means.

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis' Morning Mass Livestreamed this Week

Mar 9, 2020

Pope Francis’ daily morning Mass, offered in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lives, is being livestreamed this week so people from around the world may join in prayer for those sick with coronavirus.