following an exhortation to help guide the conscience of persons living in irregular situations (paragraph 303), pope francis observes, "because of forms of conditioning and mitigating factors, it is possible that in an objective situation of sin – which may not be subjectively culpable, or fully such – a person can be living in god’s grace, can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity, while receiving the church’s help to this end." (paragraph 305) in a footnote, pope francis states, "in certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments. hence, 'i want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the lord's mercy' ("evangelii gaudium, 44"). i would also point out that the eucharist 'is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak (footnote 351).