Many people do not realize the beauty of speaking with a priest, of opening our hearts and unburdening ourselves of situations that may be hurting us.

Newsroom (25/06/2022 09:00, Gaudium Press) The delegate of the Pontifical Council for Culture at the Vatican, Bishop Carlos Azevedo, in an interview with CNN Portugal, highlighted the beauty of the Sacrament of Confession and its beneficial effects on spiritual and mental health.

Relationship of trust between the faithful and the priest

According to the prelate, what leads the faithful to open up to priests during confession is a relationship of trust that is created. He also stressed that there is a need for people to be heard and to feel that their problems are welcomed and understood.

Despite this, “many people do not imagine the beauty of speaking with a priest, to open our hearts and unload situations that may be hurting us. We would need fewer psychiatrists if there were more confessional time with priests,” he assured.

Sacrament of confession as a means to fight depression

Speaking about his experience in the confessional, Archbishop Azevedo said that the faithful receive welcome, understanding and compassion in the Sacrament of Confession, and afterwards appreciate themselves more and and are more able to overcome situations of depression.

Dom Carlos Azevedo has been in Rome since 2011, where he works in the Department of Cultural Goods (archives, library, museums and all the intangible patrimony), the same area in which he worked in Portugal as a professor. 

Compiled by Sandra Chisholm