Pope on Confession: 'Forgiveness is a human right'

By Robin Gomes

“Forgiveness is a human right” which priests at the confessional should dispense by welcoming, listening to and accompanying penitents, thus helping contribute to a “spiritual ‘ecology’ of the world.”

“Forgiveness is a ‘right’ in the sense that God, in the Paschal Mystery of Christ, has given it in a total and irreversible way to every person willing to accept it, with a humble and repentant heart.”

Pope Francis made those remarks on Friday to some 400 participants in the 32nd course on the Internal Forum, organized in the Vatican by the Apostolic Penitentiary, held on 21-25 March.  

Spiritual ‘ecology’ of the world

“By generously dispensing God's forgiveness,” the Pope said, “we confessors cooperate in healing people and the world; we cooperate in bringing about that love and peace for which every human heart yearns so intensely; we contribute, if I may say so, to a spiritual 'ecology' of the world.”

He regarded the participation of some 800 clerics in the hybrid course as encouraging, given that today’s widespread mentality finds it hard to understand the supernatural dimension, or even wants to deny it.

With regard to the Internal Forum, which consists of sacramental confession and the privacy of one’s conscience before God, the Holy Father urged confessors on the path of welcoming, listening to and accompanying penitents, to which he said we must add joy which always accompanies confession.

Welcoming

By welcoming, the confessor helps the penitent to open himself or herself to the fatherhood of God.

“Welcoming is the measure of pastoral charity, which matures in the course of a priest’s formation, bearing rich fruits both for the penitent and for the confessor himself, who lives his fatherhood, like the father of the prodigal son, full of joy at the return of his son.”

Listening

Listening is more than hearing. A confessor needs attention, willingness, patience, which helps the confessor leave behind his own thoughts and patterns. 

“If, while the penitent is speaking, you are already thinking about what to say, what to answer, then you are not listening to him or her, but to yourself. Listening is a form of love that makes the other person feel truly loved," said Pope Francis.

The Pope noted that often the confession often becomes an examination of conscience for the confessor. It helps the priest to empty himself of his ego to welcome the other.

Penitents have the right to be heard with faith, and with that charity which the Father reserves for His children, which generates joy.

Accompanying

By accompanying the penitent, the Pope pointed out, the confessor does not decide for the other, as he is not the master of the conscience of the other.

The confessor simply accompanies, with all the prudence, discernment and charity of which he is capable, the recognition of the truth and the will of God in the concrete experience of the penitent.  

Here, he said, one should distinguish between the seal of confession and the dialogue of spiritual accompaniment, which is also reserved, although in a different form.

God’s mercy for all

The confessor should always have as his objective the universal call to holiness. From his conversation, he clearly discerns the needs of the penitent and accompanies him or her to an understanding and acceptance of God's will, which is always the way to the greatest good, the way to joy and peace.

“Everyone needs forgiveness, that is, to feel that they are loved as children by God the Father.”

The confessor’s final absolution is a very powerful medicine for the soul, and also for everyone's psyche.

Recalling the Apostolic Penitentiary of the 2025 Jubilee Year, Pope Francis said that penitence is the “profound nucleus” of every Jubilee, and hence care should be taken to make the Holy Year as fruitful as possible, so that God's mercy may reach everywhere and to everyone.