Answering questions

During the sacrament of confession, a priest acts as the representative of Jesus Christ to guide the penitent, assign penance, and grant sacramental absolution.

The Role of the Priest
In persona Christi:
The priest acts in the person of Christ, offering God's mercy rather than his own personal judgment.
Spiritual Guide:
He listens to the sins, offers advice or spiritual medicine, and helps the person understand how to grow closer to God.
Assigning Penance:
He gives a specific prayer or action for the penitent to complete, showing a real desire to turn away from sin.
Absolution:
He pronounces the words of forgiveness, officially absolving the person of their sins.

Strict Confidentiality
Absolute Secrecy:
The Seal of Confession in the Catholic Church binds the priest to total silence.
No Exceptions:
A priest can never reveal what a person says in confession to anyone, for any reason, even under the threat of death.
Forgetting Sins:
Most priests genuinely do not dwell on or remember the specific sins people confess once the sacrament is over.