There is a long-standing sacramental fallacy amongst Catholics that if you ask God to forgive your sins, he will. This is not to say that God could not since He is the author of life and is not bound by time or space. If God choses to forgive someone for his actions, then He can if He desires. The origin of this prevalent mind set is due in many respects from a misunderstanding of God’s mercy revealed through His Son Jesus Christ hence no need for the sacrament of confession…
POPE FRANCIS TO CONFER NEW LAY MINISTRIES FOR FIRST TIME IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will confer the ministries of catechist, lector, and acolyte upon lay men and
