Question 201
© Libreria Editrice Vaticana Source: vatican.va
Why does the Church have the power to forgive sins?
Answer
The Church has the mission and the power to forgive sins because Christ himself has conferred it upon her: “Receive the Holy Spirit, if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).