Pope Francis admitted on Wednesday that even the supreme leader of the Catholic Church cannot help but stray from the path of righteousness.
The statement is unexpected from a figure popularly understood to be "infallible", but Catholic theology states that infallibility only applies to papal teachings on faith or morals, not to everything the pope might say or write.
"I am a sinner, I feel like a sinner, I am sure of being one," the pontiff told a Vatican in-house weekly, Credere. "Even now, I commit mistakes and sins, and I confess every fifteen to twenty says," he added.
The interview was released in connection to next week's opening of the Jubilee, a special event also known as holy year which offers Catholics an occasion to make a pilgrimage and seek forgiveness for their sins.
Pope Francis decided to make mercy the central theme of the jubilee, which is due to start on Tuesday and run until November 20 2016.
"I think this is the time for mercy. We are all sinners, we all have something weighing on us," he said.
DPA
I feel like a sinner, I am sure of being one - pope
Pope Francis admitted on Wednesday that even the supreme leader of the Catholic Church cannot help but stray from the path of righteousness.
The statement is unexpected from a figure popularly understood to be "infallible", but Catholic theology states that infallibility only applies to papal teachings on faith or morals, not to everything the pope might say or write.
"I am a sinner, I feel like a sinner, I am sure of being one," the pontiff told a Vatican in-house weekly, Credere. "Even now, I commit mistakes and sins, and I confess every fifteen to twenty says," he added.
The interview was released in connection to next week's opening of the Jubilee, a special event also known as holy year which offers Catholics an occasion to make a pilgrimage and seek forgiveness for their sins.
Pope Francis decided to make mercy the central theme of the jubilee, which is due to start on Tuesday and run until November 20 2016.
"I think this is the time for mercy. We are all sinners, we all have something weighing on us," he said.
DPA
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