Pope Francis: 'Confession is not a 'laundromat' or 'torture session'

Morning Mass at Domus Sancta Martha

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a 'laundromat' that removes sins, or a 'torture session' where beatings are inflicted, Pope Francis said, during his homily at morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sancta Martha.

Confession is a meeting with Jesus when we can feel his tenderness, he said. We must approach the sacrament without tricks or half-truths, but with mildness and cheerfulness, trusting and armed with 'blessed shame', the 'virtue of humility', which allows us to recognize ourselves as sinners.

Among those concelebrating was Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), with the Secretary, Mgr Luigi Mistò; Archbishop Francesco Gioia, President of Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem; Archbishop Anthony Obinna of Owerri, Nigeria; and the Procurator General of the Verbites, Fr Gianfranco Girardi. Bishop Eduardo Horacio García, Auxiliary and Pro-Vicar of Buenos Aires, also concelebrated. Others present were the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master who work in the Vatican and a group of employees of APSA.

Source: OR/VIS