In a meeting with 800 priests and religious in the Basilica of San Zeno during his visit to Verona on 18 May, Francis once again promoted formalism by calling for cheap absolution after an empty confession.
He overlooked the fact that confession has virtually died out after Vatican II precisely because of such formalism.
"Confession should not be a torture," he said, as if anyone had ever claimed it was. Then Francis, who is known to be vindictive and unforgiving, added: "Please forgive everything" and "forgive without making them suffer" - something Francis himself has neverdone since he has been running the Vatican.
If the priest doesn't understand what the penitent is saying, he should go on, because "the Lord understands", Francis said, revealing a magical understanding of confession.
Francis recalled a cardinal, a confessor [Cardinal Luis Pasqual Dri OFMcap, 96], who, when someone "had difficulty saying things", would tell the penitent: "Go on. I didn't understand, but God understood". This is childish, because God doesn't need confession. People need it.
"Please", Francis repeated his senseless statement, "do not torture the penitent".
Through Amoris Laetitia and Fiducia supplicans, Francis promotes invalid absolutions (with or without confession) for unrepented mortal sins. At the same time, he slanders those who strive to do right and take religion seriously.
Picture: Vatican Media, #newsMlxisgvgka