The
head of the Roman Catholic church, Pope Francis has conferred special
powers on Nigerian priests and their counterparts all over the world.
Pope Francis
Nigerian Catholic priests now have more reasons to smile as Pope
Francis on Monday issued a decree giving all Roman Catholic priests the
power to forgive abortion, a power that was previously reserved for
bishops or special confessors.
The pope made the announcement through a document known as an
“apostolic letter” after Sunday’s close of the Church’s “Holy Year of
Mercy”.
“I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their
ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of
procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to
the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended,” he declared.
The announcement reiterated the Holy Father's earlier statement
that abortion is a sin that results in the loss of human life but added
that God is a powerful forgiver who does not shun away any repentant
heart.
But he said Monday that the end of the special year did not mean
the end of mercy itself, and so-called sinners must be given a chance to
repent. The Catholic Church considers abortion to be a sin.
“I can and must state that there is no sin that God’s mercy
cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be
reconciled with the Father,” Francis said in the letter.
“May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation.” he added
The forgiveness stretches not only to women who have abortions but also to those who carry them out or are involved in any way.
Pope Francis has warmed himself into the hearts of many people
since he became pope. Just last year, he gave all priests the special
power of “sacramental absolution” for abortion during the Holy Year, from December 8 to November 20, 2016.
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