Pope Francis has extended indefinitely the power of Catholic priests throughout the world to forgive abortions as the Vatican announced it in an apostolic letter on Monday.

This announcement was a signal of the Pope's vision of a more welcoming and merciful catholic church. This policy extends as in making it a permanent one that Pope announced a year ago on the church's year-long Jubilee of Mercy. The Pope had already temporarily allowed all priests to give what is called "sacramental absolution" for abortion from Dec. 8 to Nov. 20, but its apostolic letter suggested that these changes would last until the end term of his papacy.

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This policy gives all priests, not only bishops or special confessors, to grant forgiveness for abortion.

Women who have been guilty of commiting abortion could gain absolution of this sin by confessing it to the priest, and this forgiveness extends to anyone who is involved in abortion work or people who do the procedure.

Under canon law, abortion brings automatic excommunication unless that person confesses her sins and receives absolution. Abortion is considered a "reserved sin," wherein the permission to grant forgiveness usually must come from a bishop.

This bishop power to permit the granting of forgiveness varies widely by country and even by diocese. For instance, in United States, the Bishops could already delegate the authority to grant absolution to parish priests, while in some parts of the world, observant Catholics who have sought absolution for abortions have faced delays and even rejection.

In some places, priests have been delegated the power to absolve abortions during certain times of the year.

The Catholic Church stance on abortion as a grave sin for it puts an end to innocent life has not changed, but the Pope also reminds the church with its prevailing theme that the doors of the Church must remain open, just as God's forgiveness and mercy extend to all those who repent from sin.

In the letter the Pope stated, "In the same way, however, I can and must state that there is no sin that God's mercy cannot reach and wipe away when it finds a repentant heart seeking to be reconciled with the Father."

The Pope's apostolic letter aims that every priest should serve as a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation.

The Pope's announcement calls on the clergy and the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to reflect and act on the message of the year-long meditaion on mercy.

TagsPope Francis, Abortion, Forgiveness, priest, World