When the Pope goes to Confession

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Antonius_Lupus

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How does that work?

BTW, how do bishops receive the sacrament of Reconciliation? Do they go to other bishops?

Do y’all think that the Apostles gave the primitive “ministry of Reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18) to one another? Especially in light of the verses in the NT about Confession (Acts 19:18, James 5:16). After all they had the authority to forgive sins in the presence of Christ (2 Cor. 2:10) and given that authority by Christ (John 20:22-23; Mat. 18:18).

Does that mean they could exercise that authority over one-another since they were all apostles???

Just something I was mulling over as I was doing my Spanish homework…

HAPPY ST. THOMAS AQUINAS DAY!!! 👍
 
Well, of course he goes/they go to Confession !

Where does it say that you can only go to confession to someone of “higher rank”?

Confession, besides being Sacremental, is also an act of humility. An act of humility knows no “rank”.
 
Here is the relevant section in canon law. And no, no special rules for bishops or popes.
 
Since the priest acts ‘in persona christi’, and the sacrament operates ‘Ex opere operato’, any ordained Priest is able to give confession to the Pope.
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
How does that work?
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I can’t recall details off the top of my head, but I think the pope usually has a particular priest who works at the Vatican as a confessor.
Antonius Lupus:
BTW, how do bishops receive the sacrament of Reconciliation?
Click to expand...
I once heard a bishop speak of this - he said that since he visited family in the DC area every couple of months, he simply went to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where they are probably more used to getting bishops and such in the confessionals. Regardless, he said he would tell them he is a bishop, since some of his sins would be specific to his office (his being rude to a deacon would be different from my being rude to a deacon).
Antonius Lupus:
Do y’all think that the Apostles gave the primitive “ministry of Reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18) to one another?
Click to expand...
I think it is unlikely the Apostles did so in any formal manner. The Sacrament of Penance in the early Church was certainly in your words “primitive” compared to today’s sacrament. I believe that for a long time it could only be granted once in a person’s lifetime. It’s a good bet, then, that the sacrament (not sure they understood it as such) was only invoked for especially grave sins.
 
An interesting thought is brought up…

Do diocesan bishops routinely confess to one of the priests in his diocese?
 
Antonius_Lupus said:
How does that work?

BTW, how do bishops receive the sacrament of Reconciliation? Do they go to other bishops?

Do y’all think that the Apostles gave the primitive “ministry of Reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18) to one another? Especially in light of the verses in the NT about Confession (Acts 19:18, James 5:16). After all they had the authority to forgive sins in the presence of Christ (2 Cor. 2:10) and given that authority by Christ (John 20:22-23; Mat. 18:18).

Does that mean they could exercise that authority over one-another since they were all apostles???

Just something I was mulling over as I was doing my Spanish homework…

HAPPY ST. THOMAS AQUINAS DAY!!! 👍
Click to expand...
The Pope, Cardinals, Bishops all can go to any Priest or Bishop. Generally speaking they have a Confessor who can be a Priest or another Bishop or Abbot.
 
Windmill said:
An interesting thought is brought up…

Do diocesan bishops routinely confess to one of the priests in his diocese?
Click to expand...
I guess it depends on who’s available. Maybe some bishops have a particular spiritual director who acts as a confessor, especially if they have a retreat center or monastery in the diocese.

Of course, since one normally has to give his state in life, as mentioned above, (“It’s been a week since my last confession, and I’m a bishop.”)!, it would seem like it kind of ruins the anonymity. So I’m glad I’m not a bishop.
 
I’ve always wondered how a priest would give advice to the Pope.
 
The pope usually has a private confessor. This is an ordinary priest who helps him with his spiritual life. It has nothing to do with the exercise of the pope’s office.

Matthew
 
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