"Today’s meeting gives me the opportunity to meditate, together with you, on the importance of the Sacrament of Penance, in the current times, too, and to confirm the need for priests to prepare themselves to administer it with devotion and faithfulness, in praise of God". The Pope said that in the Vatican, today, during the hearing conceded to the participants in the "Inner Court Course" promoted by Apostolic Penitentiary, presided over by Cardinal James Francis Stafford. "In administering the Sacrament of remission and reconciliation in accordance with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the presbyter acts as ‘the sign and the instrument of God’s merciful lover towards the sinner’", added Benedict XVI, pointing out that "just from this spiritual source, it is possible to get the inner energy which is necessary to defeat evil and sin, in the restless struggle marking our earthly pilgrimage towards the heavens". (To be continued)” ” ” “
