New norms from the Diocese of Rome for the hearing of confessions during the Jubilee year

The Jubilee pilgrimage to the four Holy Doors of the major papal basilicas of Rome is one of the conditions for obtaining the grace of the special plenary indulgence granted during the Jubilee. Alongside the passage through the door and prayer, other conditions include the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father. With regard to confessions during the Jubilee, the Diocese of Rome has published some explanatory norms for priests.

“Every Holy Year of the Catholic Church represents first of all a pastoral opportunity,” said Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s Vicar for Rome, in a note which has been published. He continued: “Pilgrims who come to Rome during the Jubilee of 2025 must be guaranteed both the possibility of approaching the sacrament of reconciliation ‘so that no one is deprived of the possibility of receiving God's forgiveness and consolation" (Spes non confundit, n. 23), and thus be able to draw from the source of living and life-giving water that is the Word of God. The Church responds to these pastoral needs through the service of priests: those incardinated in the Diocese of Rome, those who habitually carry out their pastoral service there, but also those who will accompany the pilgrims."

The norms published by the Vicariate of Rome recall that by law, priests have the faculty to preach anywhere, "to be exercised with at least the presumed consent of the rector of the church, unless in particular circumstances there is an alternative provision". With regard to the sacrament of reconciliation, it is established that "priests who enjoy the faculty of habitually hearing confessions either by virtue of their office or by virtue of the concession of the Ordinary of the place of incardination or domicile, can exercise the same faculty anywhere, unless the Ordinary of the place, in a particular case, has prohibited it".

The note also explains the four ways in which, according to Decree no. 120/00 of the Vicariate of Rome, of 20 February 2000, the faculty of administering the sacrament of Reconciliation can be exercised in the Diocese of Rome.

First, diocesan priests and religious "who have their domicile or quasi-domicile in Rome and carry out a habitual ministry there, provided that they are already endowed with the faculty by their local Ordinary, can carry out this ministry in the Diocese of Rome", however, "they must produce documentation certifying that they possess the faculty in question and obtain from the Vicariate of Rome the document certifying that the Ordinary of Rome has verified their position."

Second, diocesan priests "who reside in Rome for a period of time equal to, or greater than, three months, or in any case with the intention of remaining there for at least this period, but who do not habitually carry out their ministry in the Diocese, if they enjoy the faculty of habitually hearing confessions, can also exercise it in the Diocese of Rome. However, the Ordinary of Rome can establish that in particular cases they are subject to the discipline provided for those who have their domicile or quasi-domicile in the Diocese of Rome."

Third, “diocesan and religious priests who occasionally exercise their ministry in Rome, for a very limited period of time, such as those who accompany pilgrims, or are passing through, have the faculty of

hearing confessions and can exercise it to the extent that it has been recognized by concession of the Ordinary of the place of incardination or domicile.”

Finally, “Parish priests or their stable collaborator priests, as well as Rectors, are required to verify the position of priests who also occasionally exercise their ministry in the churches and oratories entrusted to them, with regard to the exercise of such faculties in the Diocese of Rome.”

All priests are therefore required to certify their position with a valid and recent document if requested by the aforementioned office holders.

The Decree therefore “interprets and applies the universal law, without depriving priests of their faculties, given that those who possess them can also exercise them in Rome. However, anyone who intends to remain in Rome permanently and exercise a habitual ministry must regularize their position with the Vicariate of Rome’s Clergy Office. Anyone who lacks the faculties for any reason (criminal, disciplinary, pastoral), cannot exercise them in the Diocese of Rome". The full text can be found here: https://www.diocesidiroma.it/nota-esplicativa-circa-le-facolta-di-predicare-e-di-ricevere-confessioni-nel-territorio-della-diocesi-di-roma-durante-il-giubileo-2025/The Jubilee pilgrimage to the four Holy Doors of the major papal basilicas of Rome is one of the conditions for obtaining the grace of the special plenary indulgence granted during the Jubilee. Alongside the passage through the door and prayer, other conditions include the reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father. With regard to confessions during the Jubilee, the Diocese of Rome has published some explanatory norms for priests.

“Every Holy Year of the Catholic Church represents first of all a pastoral opportunity,” said Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s Vicar for Rome, in a note which has been published. He continued: “Pilgrims who come to Rome during the Jubilee of 2025 must be guaranteed both the possibility of approaching the sacrament of reconciliation ‘so that no one is deprived of the possibility of receiving God's forgiveness and consolation" (Spes non confundit, n. 23), and thus be able to draw from the source of living and life-giving water that is the Word of God. The Church responds to these pastoral needs through the service of priests: those incardinated in the Diocese of Rome, those who habitually carry out their pastoral service there, but also those who will accompany the pilgrims."

The norms published by the Vicariate of Rome recall that by law, priests have the faculty to preach anywhere, "to be exercised with at least the presumed consent of the rector of the church, unless in particular circumstances there is an alternative provision". With regard to the sacrament of reconciliation, it is established that "priests who enjoy the faculty of habitually hearing confessions either by virtue of their office or by virtue of the concession of the Ordinary of the place of incardination or domicile, can exercise the same faculty anywhere, unless the Ordinary of the place, in a particular case, has prohibited it".

The note also explains the four ways in which, according to Decree no. 120/00 of the Vicariate of Rome, of 20 February 2000, the faculty of administering the sacrament of Reconciliation can be exercised in the Diocese of Rome.

First, diocesan priests and religious "who have their domicile or quasi-domicile in Rome and carry out a habitual ministry there, provided that they are already endowed with the faculty by their local Ordinary, can carry out this ministry in the Diocese of Rome", however, "they must produce documentation certifying that they possess the faculty in question and obtain from the Vicariate of Rome the document certifying that the Ordinary of Rome has verified their position."

Second, diocesan priests "who reside in Rome for a period of time equal to, or greater than, three months, or in any case with the intention of remaining there for at least this period, but who do not habitually carry out their ministry in the Diocese, if they enjoy the faculty of habitually hearing confessions, can also exercise it in the Diocese of Rome. However, the Ordinary of Rome can establish that in particular cases they are subject to the discipline provided for those who have their domicile or quasi-domicile in the Diocese of Rome."

Third, “diocesan and religious priests who occasionally exercise their ministry in Rome, for a very limited period of time, such as those who accompany pilgrims, or are passing through, have the faculty of

hearing confessions and can exercise it to the extent that it has been recognized by concession of the Ordinary of the place of incardination or domicile.”

Finally, “Parish priests or their stable collaborator priests, as well as Rectors, are required to verify the position of priests who also occasionally exercise their ministry in the churches and oratories entrusted to them, with regard to the exercise of such faculties in the Diocese of Rome.”

All priests are therefore required to certify their position with a valid and recent document if requested by the aforementioned office holders.

The Decree therefore “interprets and applies the universal law, without depriving priests of their faculties, given that those who possess them can also exercise them in Rome. However, anyone who intends to remain in Rome permanently and exercise a habitual ministry must regularize their position with the Vicariate of Rome’s Clergy Office. Anyone who lacks the faculties for any reason (criminal, disciplinary, pastoral), cannot exercise them in the Diocese of Rome".

The full text can be found here: https://www.diocesidiroma.it/nota-esplicativa-circa-le-facolta-di-predicare-e-di-ricevere-confessioni-nel-territorio-della-diocesi-di-roma-durante-il-giubileo-2025/