Addressing the community of penitent confessors serving in the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled that a good confessor must always show closeness, kindness and compassion to the repentant believer.
vatican city
Vatican City, Friday, October 25, 2024 (REI, Vatican Radio): Addressing the community of penitent confessors serving in the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled that a good confessor must always show closeness, kindness and compassion to the repentant believer.
“Always forgive everything, because we are here to forgive; let others argue!” Pope Francis reiterated it this Thursday, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the ordination of the Franciscan order to the Sacrament of Repentance and Reconciliation in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Sacrament of Repentance and Reconciliation has been under the supervision of the Franciscan order since 1774.
the mercy of god
Father Vincenzo Cosati OFM, senior priest of the Franciscan order. Addressing the 60 confessors who came to the Vatican for an interview with Pope Francis under the leadership of Pope Francis, the Pope highlighted the importance of their service in the Vatican Cathedral. He said that the apostolate of the sacrament of repentance and reconciliation “presents before them the testimony that the Church welcomes above all, as a community of the forgiven, those who believe in the light of God’s tenderness, his mercy and his power.” “.
humility, listening and kindness
The Pope focused his thoughts on three key aspects of the apostolate of repentance and reconciliation: humility, listening and mercy. Inspired by the example of the apostle Saint Peter, who learned the lesson of humility by asking for forgiveness after his personal mistakes, the Pope invited Franciscan confessors to see themselves above all as “penitents” and to always seek God’s mercy.
He said this humility should be reflected in his prayers and actions in the cathedral sanctuary.
Compassionate listener, not psychotherapist
Pope Francis highlighted the importance of active and empathetic listening, especially to the young and vulnerable, warning however that a confessor is not a psychiatrist. He said: “The less you say the better, just listen, comfort and offer forgiveness.”
The Pope said: “Listening does not simply mean listening to what people say, but above all receiving their words as a gift from God, so that the person himself becomes humble, open to conversion, like the potter.” “The soil is prepared for its own transformation.”
He recalled that by listening attentively to the penitent in the sacrament of Reconciliation, the confessor “listens to Jesus himself, who is poor, indigent and humble,” and thus facilitates the personal encounter between the penitent and Christ.
forgiveness and compassion
Recognizing that people who confess already feel humiliated by their sins, Pope Francis urged those who hear confessions to be kind, compassionate and gentle toward those who repent.
He said: “As God’s forgivers, confessors must be ‘men of mercy’ and be ready to console with bright and generous words.” He appealed to the Franciscan friars, who were known as much for their asceticism as for their kindness and generosity.
