Pope Francis extends the power to forgive abortion to all Roman Catholic Priests

Pope Francis on Monday allowed all Roman Catholic priests the power to forgive abortion, a power previously reserved for bishops or special confessors.

Pope Francis, made the announcement in a document known as an "apostolic letter" after Sunday's close of the Catholic Church's "Holy Year of Mercy".

The Pope said he wanted to "restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life" but "there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with (God)".

The Catholic church has condemned abortion as a "moral evil" and deemed it worthy of automatic excommunication, also applicable to partners who support abortion decisions and medical staff involved in the procedure until it is absolved in confession.

In the past, only a bishop or a designated chief confessor of a diocese could grant absolution for an abortion.

"I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended ...," said Pope Francis.

 Reuters