The cardinal supports by telephone the "probable invalidity" of the confession

Even though the world is facing a pandemic that could limit the ability of many people to celebrate the sacraments, especially those people who are in solitary confinement, quarantine or hospitalized with COVID-19, confession over the phone is still very likely not. valid, said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

In an interview on 5 December with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the cardinal was asked whether a telephone or other electronic means of communication could be used for confession.

“We can confirm the probable invalidity of the absolution given by such means,” he said.

“In fact, the real presence of the penitent is missing, and there is no true conveyance of the words of absolution; there are only electrical vibrations that reproduce the human word, ”he said.

The cardinal said that it is up to the local bishop to decide whether to allow "collective absolution" in cases of grave necessity, "for example, at the entrance to hospital wards where the faithful are infected and in danger of death".

In this case, the priest should take the necessary health precautions and should try to "amplify" his voice as much as possible so that absolution can be heard, he added.

The law of the Church requires, in most cases, that the priest and the penitent be physically present to each other. The penitent declares his sins aloud and expresses contrition for them.

Recognizing the difficulties that priests face in respecting health measures and mandates while being able to offer the sacrament, the cardinal said that it is up to each bishop to indicate to their priests and faithful "the cautious attention that should be taken" in the individual celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation in ways that maintain the physical presence of the priest and penitent. Such guidance should be based on the local situation regarding spread and contagion risk, he added.

For example, the cardinal said, the place indicated for confession should be well ventilated and outside the confessional, face masks should be used, surrounding surfaces should be sanitized frequently and there should be social distancing while also ensuring discretion. and safeguard seal of confession.

The cardinal's comments reiterated what the apostolic penitentiary said in mid-March when it released a note "On the sacrament of reconciliation in the current coronavirus emergency".

The sacrament must be administered in accordance with canon law and other provisions, even during a global pandemic, he said, adding the indications he cited in the interview on taking precautionary measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

"Where the individual faithful should find himself in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it must be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, loved above all, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness - the one that the penitent can express in that moment - and accompanied by the 'votum confessionis', that is, by the firm resolution to receive sacramental confession as soon as possible, he obtains the forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones ”, reads the note from mid-March.

Pope Francis repeated the same possibility during a live streaming morning Mass on March 20.

People who cannot confess due to the coronavirus blockade or another serious reason can go directly to God, be specific about their sins, ask for forgiveness, and experience God's loving forgiveness, he said.

The pope said people should: “Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says. It's very clear: if you can't find a priest to confess to, talk directly to God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, 'Lord, I've done this, this, this. Forgive me "and ask for forgiveness with all your heart."

Make an act of contrition, the pope said, and promise God: “'Later I will go to confession, but forgive me now'. And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God “.

"As the catechism teaches", said Pope Francis, "you can get close to God's forgiveness without having a priest at hand