In a world often dominated by ‘individualism and subjectivism,’ he said, many people — including many Catholics — say that God will forgive their sins and they have no need of the sacrament of confession and the ministry of a priest.
‘Certainly, God forgives every repentant sinner, but the Christian is bound to Christ and Christ is united to his church,’ the pope said. ‘God, in his sovereign mercy, forgives everyone, but he wanted those who belong to Christ and his church to receive forgiveness through the community’s ministers.’
‘Priests, too, need confession, even bishops. We are all sinners. Even the pope goes to confession every two weeks because the pope, too, is a sinner,’ he said. ‘My confessor hears what I say, offers me advice and forgives me. We all need this.’
Through the presence and words of a priest, he said, penitents have ‘the certainty of forgiveness in the name of the church.’
via CNS STORY: Pope, at audience, says he goes to confession every two weeks.