Sacrament of Penance

The Latest

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Privacy in the confessional: Is your smartphone listening to your sins?

Oct 28, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Could it be true that your phone is “listening” to your private conversations — including in the confessional? Read more

Pope Francis confesses in St. Peter's Basilica.

Hearing the pope’s confession: Vatican confessor reflects on sacrament

Dec 10, 2023

By AC Wimmer

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

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

Francisco Velarde, a 21-year-old Spaniard, was one of the young people who had the privilege of going to confession with Pope Francis on Friday, Aug. 4, at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

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 the confession of a young pilgrim at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 4, 2023.

Pope Francis hears young people’s confessions in Lisbon

Aug 4, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis on Friday heard the confessions of three young people in the Jardim Vasco da Gama, renamed Reconciliation Park... Read more

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Catholics, are you going to confession? Watch for these changes

Feb 23, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

The “essential words” of the priest’s absolution formula have not been changed, but there are “two minor modifications to the... 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

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The prayer of absolution will change for US Catholics in 2023. Here’s how

Jun 10, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

The changes are subtle, and the essential formula will stay the same. 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

What is the seal of confession? A Q&A with Cardinal Mauro Piacenza

Oct 15, 2021

By CNA Staff

To learn more about the secrecy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we spoke to Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the head of... Read more

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, addresses the July 28 online panel hosted by Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

Confession must be part of talks on worthiness to receive Communion, Nuncio says

Jul 28, 2021

By Matt Hadro

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 hears confessions at St. John Lateran in Rome March 2, 2017.

Pope Francis: Going to confession is 'abandoning oneself to Love'

Mar 12, 2021

Pope Francis said Friday that going to confession is an act of “abandoning oneself to Love,” allowing the God of... Read more

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

Pope Francis prays for a renewal of the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Mar 3, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of March is for a renewed experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Read more

Purple stole and confessional.

Bishops in northeast Italy permit general absolution at Christmas due to pandemic

Dec 14, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Catholic bishops in northeast Italy have said that the risk of illness amid the ongoing pandemic constitutes a grave necessity... Read more

Pope Francis prays in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta March 16, 2020.

'Return home' through the sacrament of confession, Pope Francis urges

Mar 20, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

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

Mar 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called for the Sacrament of Confession to be elevated in the pastoral life of the Church during a... 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