A week-long forum on penitence and forgiveness is now underway in Rome.
Organised by the Vatican's Apostolic Penitentiary, the annual Internal
Forum aims to give newly ordained priests, as well as seminarians soon
to receive Holy Orders, an opportunity for “reflection and in-depth
training” on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Multi-disciplinary discussions
During the forum, specialists from many different disciplines will address participants on topics ranging from indulgences to the relationship between confession and artificial intelligence.
In a press release, the organisers of the course said that priority would be given to “the resolution of concrete and complex cases submitted to the discernment and mercy of the Church".
Each session will be followed by a debate among the participants.
On Friday, March 8th, as the forum comes to an end, participants will be received in audience by Pope Francis.
Cardinal Piacenza: Reconciliation as prerequisite for Church reform
The forum was opened on Monday afternoon by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
He began his address by reflecting on the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year,
stressing that, although it often goes unnoticed, the aspect of
reconciliation is central to the event. While the media, he said, focus
above all on the millions of pilgrims expected to descend on Rome for
the Jubilee, the penitential dimension is equally essential to the
celebration.
Before the “light” of forgiveness can shine in
the world, however, Cardinal Piacenza cautioned, it must first shine in
each one of us. “Indeed,” he suggested, “it would be unthinkable to hope
for a renewal of the Church and the world, without our own personal
renewal.”
The Cardinal also pointed out the important of
penitence to the reform of the Church. “Reform, necessary at all times,”
he said, “does not consist in reshaping ‘our’ Church according to our
preferences … but rather in allowing our human constructions to be swept
away by the mercy that comes from above.”
Finally, the
Cardinal reflected on the eschatological dimension of penitence, which,
he said, brings us back into communion not only with the Church on earth
but also with the Church in Heaven. Confession, Cardinal Piacenza
stressed, thus reconciles us with “the entire ecclesial body.”