--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people who are afraid to go to…" description: "\"There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge there, but the immensely merciful Father.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png" --- # There are people who are afraid to go to confession… ![“There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge there, but the immensely merciful Father.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png) > “There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge there, but the immensely merciful Father.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People fear confession, forgetting the priest’s mercy outweighs judgment, encouraging trust in compassionate guidance. **In simple terms:** Confession is about mercy, not judgment. Key Takeaway Seek forgiveness, trust mercy. Themes faith forgiveness compassion Mood reverent encouraging Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - spiritual counseling - personal repentance - church attendance Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What blocks you from seeking forgiveness? - How does mercy change your view of sin? A Different Perspective Some may still feel judged despite assurances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-confession-1150921/) [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Immensely Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immensely-merciful-4854655/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful/) [Merciful Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful-father-1523491/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Severe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severe/) ## Related quotes > [Do not be afraid of Confession! One who is in line to confess himself feels all these things - even shame - but then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-be-afraid-of-confession-one-who-is-in-line-to-confess-himself/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Do not be afraid of confession!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-be-afraid-of-confession/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Therefore, is thy brother a sinner? Then cover his sin and pray for him. Dost thou publish his sins, then truly thou art not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/therefore-is-thy-brother-a-sinner-then-cover-his-sin-and-pray-for-him/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our merciful Father has no pleasure in the sufferings of His children; He chastens them in love; He never inflicts a stroke He could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/our-merciful-father-has-no-pleasure-in-the-sufferings-of-his-children/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [So this estate is given each of us to determine whether or not we will merit glory and honor "for ever and ever," or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elray-l-christiansen/so-this-estate-is-given-each-of-us-to-determine-whether-or-not-we/) [ElRay L. Christiansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elray-l-christiansen/) > [O most merciful Father, put far from me all my iniquities and all my offences; so that, by Thee made whole in body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ambrose/o-most-merciful-father-put-far-from-me-all-my-iniquities-and-all-my/) [Saint Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ambrose/) > [Merciful Father, I will not complain. I know that the sunshine shall follow the rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-miller/merciful-father-i-will-not-complain-i-know-that-the-sunshine-shall/) [Joaquin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-miller/) > [The wind is blowing; those vessels whose sails are unfurled catch it, and go forward on their way, but those which have their sails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-wind-is-blowing-those-vessels-whose-sails-are-unfurled-catch-it/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Our most merciful Father, seeing us to be oppressed and overwhelmed with the curse of the law . . . sent his only Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-most-merciful-father-seeing-us-to-be-oppressed-and-overwhelmed/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God is merciful to all, as he has been to you; he is first a father, then a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/god-is-merciful-to-all-as-he-has-been-to-you-he-is-first-a-father/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [But prosperity, and the happy issue of events, ought also to be attributed to his grace, in order that he may always receive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-prosperity-and-the-happy-issue-of-events-ought-also-to-be/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Merciful Father… I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ibn-fadlan/merciful-father-i-have-squandered-my-days-with-plans-of-many-things/) [Ahmed Ibn Fadlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ibn-fadlan/) > [“She didn't pull away from me and her eyes were locked on mine, filled with uncertainty. "I'm scared, Andrew." It was the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-wilde/she-didn-t-pull-away-from-me-and-her-eyes-were-locked-on-mine-filled/) [Jessica Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-wilde/) > [Living Holy Week following Jesus means learning how to come out of ourselves to reach out to others, to go to the outskirts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/living-holy-week-following-jesus-means-learning-how-to-come-out-of/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Mercy is the very foundation of the Church's life...The Church's very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love...Mercy is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/mercy-is-the-very-foundation-of-the-church-s-life-the-church-s-very/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More Confession quotes > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [Boys say its great..boys say its fine... 9 months later boys say its not mine..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/boys-say-its-great-boys-say-its-fine-9-months-later-boys-say-its-not/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [A man does not have to feel less than human to realize his sin; oppositely, he has to realize that he gets no special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-man-does-not-have-to-feel-less-than-human-to-realize-his-sin/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“in other words, his story was part boast, part confession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-other-words-his-story-was-part-boast-part-confession/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [“I have a confession to make.121 Almost every time I tune in to religious radio or TV, I want to change my religion. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-have-a-confession-to-make-121-almost-every-time-i-tune-in-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“I’m beginning to get the feeling that confession is what we need in order to forgive ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/i-m-beginning-to-get-the-feeling-that-confession-is-what-we-need-in/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. We must free ourselves from the obsession of thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/we-need-repentance-you-see-repentance-is-not-only-going-to-a-priest/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [You said, I love you. I said it too. The only difference is, I didn't lie to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-i-love-you-i-said-it-too-the-only-difference-is-i-didn-t-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 909 Confession quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge there, but the immensely merciful Father.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Francis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to-confession-forgetting-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confession" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to-confession-forgetting-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f20/pope-francis-85_confession_there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to_3015524.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge…” — Pope Francis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pope Francis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are people who are afraid...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to-confession-forgetting-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/there-are-people-who-are-afraid-to-go-to-confession-forgetting-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```