In his autobiography "Hope", published on Tuesday, Francis tells of a lawyer who came into his confessional in Buenos Aires: "In a haughty tone, he began to tell me nothing but trivialities. Then, from one moment to the next and in the same casual tone, he confessed that he had raped the maid."
According to Francis, the man told him: "People like that are there for everything anyway. They are not like us."
The confessor reacted indignantly to further questions and walked away.
According to the Pope, this was the only time in over 50 years of priesthood that he had been unable to grant absolution.
Absolution is the forgiveness of sins that a person admits to the priest in confession.
This absolution by the priest is linked to certain conditions. These include genuine remorse, clear confession and appropriate penance.
Pope Francis regularly asks priests not to be too critical during confession and to absolve confessors of all sins.
"The sacrament of penance is not there to torment, but to give peace," the Pope said at a meeting with priests in Rome in 2023. "Forgive everything, everything, everything!"