Apostolic Penitentiary

The Latest

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza.

How to bring peace to the world? Start with sacramental confession, cardinal says

Oct 31, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

We can take hope in the reconciliation, mercy, and peace of Christ in confession, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza said in a... Read more

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An expert answers 6 common reasons for not going to confession

Oct 22, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Monsignor Krzysztof Nykiel is regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the office of the Roman Curia responsible for issues related to... Read more

Pope Francis greets the elderly priest-residents of Casa San Gaetano in Rome on June 17, 2016.

Vatican offers plenary indulgence for visiting the elderly on Grandparents’ Day

May 30, 2022

By CNA Staff

The 2nd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will take place on July 24. Read more

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

Pope Francis: In confession, the priest should guide penitent to holiness

Mar 26, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

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

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary. Credit: PersiGianluigi (public domain).).

As Christmas approaches, priests should emphasize that confession can heal, cardinal says

Dec 11, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Sacramental confession has healing abilities that priests should especially emphasize to help bring God’s love and consolation to a world... Read more

Cardinale Zuppi prays at a cemetery in San Girolamo della Certosa.

Catholics can get an indulgence for the dead by praying at a cemetery any day this November

Oct 28, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A plenary indulgence remits all temporal punishment due to sin. Read more

Purple stole and confessional.

Coronavirus may cause 'grave necessity' for general absolution, Vatican says

Mar 20, 2020

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, has said that the coronavirus pandemic may justify the use of general... Read more

Confession booth in St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican. Via Shutterstock.

Seal of confession is an 'intrinsic requirement,' Vatican says

Jul 1, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The head of the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary released a note Monday reaffirming the inviolability of the... Read more

Pope Francis addresses participants in a course on the internal forum organized by the Apostlic Penitentiary at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, March 29, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Sacramental confession is the way of sanctification'

Mar 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis told priests and seminarians Friday that the sacrament of penance is “the way of sanctification” in which miraculous... Read more

Pope Francis at the penitential liturgy, March 17, 2017.

Confession must be a pastoral priority, Pope Francis says

Mar 17, 2017

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis told priests Friday to make confession a priority in their parishes, and, if they want to be good... Read more

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary, addressing a group of seminarians.

Joy of forgiving, being forgiven are 'united' in confessional

Mar 27, 2014

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, said sinners should not be afraid of the Sacrament of Confession because... Read more

Latest news

Cardinal-elect Dominique Mathieu, archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, discusses with EWTN News the challenges and hopes of Iran’s small Catholic community ahead of receiving his red hat from Pope Francis.

Christians in Iran are ‘leaven of society,’ new cardinal-elect of Tehran says

The pillars of the South Portico of the White House are decorated in rainbow colors as guests attend a White House Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2024.

Trump could end Defense Department’s promotion of gender ideology, abortion

Kash Patel speaks at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix.

Trump taps Kash Patel to shake up the FBI

The rose window of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is seen a few weeks before its reopening to the public scheduled for Dec. 7, 2024, on Oct. 25, 2024, in Paris.

U.S. President-elect Trump to attend Notre Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris

Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador.

Catholic Church in El Salvador calls on president to maintain ban on gold mining

Close to the Pantheon in the heart of Rome, one of the city’s oldest and most popular ecclesiastical tailor shops — Ditta Annibale Gammarelli — is ready for the Dec. 7, 2024, consistory for the creation of new cardinals.

Rome’s famous tailor prepares for the Catholic Church’s new cardinals

A 17th-century Japanese depiction of St. Francis Xavier from the Kobe City Museum collection.

Remembering St. Francis Xavier’s missionary zeal

Missouri’s bishops said citizens can reach out to the governor’s office to express opposition to the pending execution of Christopher Collings, who was convicted of the 2007 abduction, rape, torture and murder of a 9-year-old girl. Collings is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3, 2024.

U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Missouri convicted murderer’s death row case

According to Venerable English College, during the Catholic persecution in England, students would gather around the “Martyrs’ Picture” in the chapel to sing the Te Deum — a Latin hymn of thanksgiving — whenever news reached Rome of the martyrdom of a former student. This custom continues today on Martyrs’ Day, Dec. 1, when the relics of the martyrs, preserved beneath the altar, are venerated by the students.

English seminary in Rome commemorates Martyrs’ Day on St. Ralph Sherwin’s feast

Smoke of war rises over a residential area in Aleppo. On Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported.

As Aleppo’s Christians face new ordeal, Church leaders call for courage and faith

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