Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
To Pope, Leo, the 14th say it is not required to go to confession with a priest in a confessional
Executive summary
Available reporting does not show Pope Leo XIV saying that “it is not required to go to confession with a priest in a confessional.” Recent public remarks and Vatican documents emphasize the importance of sacramental confession and list “sacramental confession” among conditions for indulgences, and the pope has repeatedly described confession as a means to receive absolution from a priest [1] [2] [3]. Sources do not contain an explicit statement by Leo XIV that the faithful are not required to confess to a priest in a confessional (not found in current reporting).
1. What the pope has actually said about Confession
Pope Leo XIV’s public comments, as reflected in multiple reports, affirm the traditional Catholic teaching that sacramental confession involves confessing sins and receiving absolution from a priest. Reports of his address to young people and live updates from the National Catholic Youth Conference quote him describing the priest’s role: “When we honestly confess our sins and accept our penance, the priest gives absolution, and we know with certainty that we are forgiven” [3] [4]. Vatican and Catholic media coverage also emphasize his pastoral encouragement to use confession to encounter God’s mercy [5] [6].
2. Formal acts and requirements cited by the Vatican
An official decree tied to a papal grant of a plenary indulgence explicitly lists “sacramental confession” among the conditions for obtaining the indulgence; the Catholic News Agency summary of that decree names sacramental confession, Communion, and prayer for the pope’s intentions as required elements [1]. That demonstrates that Vatican practice under Leo XIV still treats sacramental confession as an institutional element of certain sacramental and penitential rites [1].
3. Where the claim likely comes from — pastoral emphasis versus juridical change
Some of Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral language stresses making confession more accessible and pastoral in tone — for instance describing confession as “being seen forgiven and set free” and wanting confessionals to be places of peace [7]. Those pastoral emphases can be interpreted by some readers as softening the formal aspects of sacramental confession. But available coverage shows an emphasis on encouraging frequent confession and priestly absolution, not on removing the requirement to confess to a priest [7] [3].
4. What reporting does not show — no evidence of doctrinal or canonical waiver
None of the provided sources contains a statement that Leo XIV waived the canonical requirement to confess mortal sins to a priest or that he declared confession with a priest in a confessional no longer required. The sources instead record his acceptance of traditional sacramental norms, including the priest’s role in absolution and sacramental confession as a condition for indulgences [1] [3]. Therefore, the specific claim that he said it “is not required to go to confession with a priest in a confessional” is unsupported in the available reporting (not found in current reporting).
5. Potential for misunderstanding and alternative readings
Two dynamics can cause confusion. First, pastoral language (about mercy, accessibility, and making confession welcoming) can be read as liberalizing practice even where doctrine is unchanged [7]. Second, modern pastoral accommodations — e.g., provision for the hearing-impaired or confession outside a traditional booth — are discussed in Catholic reporting and the Catechism, which may lead people to conflate “not required” with “may be done differently” [8]. The sources show Leo XIV encouraging pastoral sensitivity but do not document any formal doctrinal or canonical reform removing priestly sacramental confession [6] [8].
6. How to verify claims like this going forward
To confirm a significant doctrinal or canonical change you should look for: (a) an official Vatican text (Apostolic Letter, Motu Proprio, decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary) published on the Vatican website; (b) coverage by major Catholic news services quoting such a text; or (c) explicit language in the pope’s homilies or addresses that spells out a canonical change. As of the items provided, major Catholic outlets and Vatican postings report reaffirmations of sacramental confession and its conditions but do not publish a declaration that confession to a priest in a confessional is no longer required [1] [9].
Limitations: This analysis is restricted to the supplied set of sources. If you have or can point to a specific text, audio, or link you think supports the claim, provide it and I will analyze it against these documents. Available sources do not mention any papal statement abolishing the requirement to confess to a priest in a confessional (not found in current reporting).