'Never tire of forgiving,' Pope urges Capuchin confessors
February 09, 2016
Speaking on February 9 to Capuchin friars from around the world, Pope Francis exhorted them to be good confessors, and “never tire of forgiving.”
At a Mass in St. Peter’s basilica, celebrating the arrival there of the relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Leopold Mandic, the Pope observed in his homily that the two Capuchin saints were renowned confessors. “Yours is a tradition of forgiving, of granting forgiveness,” he said of the Capuchin order.
There are great confessors among you,” the Pope said, and explained that “it is because they consider themselves sinners.” He went on to say that a priest who knows how to pray will know how to forgive, while “when one forgets the needs to ask forgiveness, slowly one forgets God.”
Pope Francis also observed that forgiveness is the opposition of accusing. “And who is the great accuser in the Bible,” he asked. “The devil!”
“Either do the work of Jesus, who forgave,” the Pope concluded, “or do the work of the devil and condemns and accuses.”
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Further information:
- Pope Francis to Capuchins: awareness of sin key to mercy (Vatican Radio)
- To the Friars Minor Capuchin: the confessional is for forgiveness (VIS)
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