Pope Francis and the Mercy of God William R. McFadden

Overview 1/ The Theme of Mercy for Pope Francis at the Beginning of his Ministry as the Bishop of Rome 2/ Some Quotes on Mercy 3/ What have been the Influences on Pope Francis in his Understanding of Mercy 4/ What does Mercy mean for Pope Francis

1/ Pope Francis - Beginnings First Mass in Parish Church of the Vatican, St Ann Gospel of “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” Preached on mercy

1/ Pope Francis - Beginnings Mercy is the key point of that Gospel passage “Mercy is the Lord’s most powerful message”

1/ Pope Francis - Beginnings “It is not easy to trust oneself to the mercy of God, because (God’s mercy) is an unfathomable abyss – but we must do it”

1/ Pope Francis - Beginnings “We ask for the grace of never tiring of asking pardon, for he never tires of pardoning”

1/ Pope Francis - Beginnings First Sunday Angelus Told story of meeting old woman in Buenos Aries: “The Lord forgives everything…”

1/ Pope Francis - Beginnings Mentioned Cardinal Kasper’s book on Mercy “a talented theologian, a good theologian…” Has continued to repeat this theme

2/ Some Quotes on Mercy “God’s patience has to call forth in us the courage to return to him, however many mistakes and sins there may be in our life.”

2/ Some Quotes on Mercy “If we – all of us – accept the grace of Jesus Christ, he changes our heart and from sinners makes us saints...... We continue to be sinners for we are weak, but with this grace which makes us feel that the Lord is good, that the Lord is merciful, that the Lord waits for us, that the Lord pardons us, this immense grace changes our heart.”

2/ Some Quotes on Mercy “I think we too are the people who, on the one hand, want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. And Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think — and I say it with humility — that this is the Lord's most powerful message: mercy. “

2/ Some Quotes on Mercy We look at the sky, there are many, many stars; but when the sun rises in the morning, the light is such that we can’t see the stars. God’s mercy is like that: a great light of love and tenderness. God forgives us, not with a decree, but with his love, healing the wounds of sin….when Jesus acts as confessor to the woman he does not humiliate her, he does not say: ‘What have you done? When did you do it? How did you do it? With whom did you do it?’ No! He says: ‘Go and do not sin again!’. God’s mercy is great, Jesus’ mercy is great.”

2/ Some Quotes on Mercy “There is no sin which He won’t pardon. He forgives everything.  ‘But father, I don’t go to confession because I have committed so many really bad sins, so many that I can’t be pardoned.’  No, this is not true.  He forgives everything.  If you go (to confession) repentant, He will forgive everything.  When… so many times He doesn’t even let you speak! You start to ask for forgiveness and He lets you feel that joy of forgiveness before you have even finished confessing everything.”

3/ Influences on Pope Francis His pastoral experience His experience of the poor and the broken

3/ Influences on Pope Francis Jose Bergoglio, the Jesuit The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Sacred Heart of Jesus

3/ Influences on Pope Francis The Principles of the Social Teaching of the Church Community Preferential Option for the Poor Global human solidarity

3/ Influences on Pope Francis His humility “I am a sinner”

3/ Influences on Pope Francis His personal devotions Our Lady Untier of Knots

3/ Influences on Pope Francis The Sacrament of Forgiveness Critical of harsh confessors

4/ Mercy for Pope Francis The historical self-revelation of God puts mercy at the centre Myth that the God of the Hebrews is an angry God

4/ Mercy for Pope Francis Mercy in the New Testament How we have made a hash of the Gospel message Jesus’ scandalous deeds of mercy

4/ Mercy for Pope Francis Thomas Peter Emmaus disciples Prodigal Son

4/ Mercy for Pope Francis Mercy and Justice Mercy is not about morality, but about discipleship Not cheap or sentimental grace

4/ Mercy for Pope Francis Receiving forgiveness leads to showing forgiveness to others “Mercy, this is the name of our God

A Holy Year of Mercy Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is a journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. For this reason, I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord's words: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)”

A Holy Year of Mercy This Holy Year will begin on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will end on November 20, 2016, the Sunday dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – and living face of the Father’s mercy. I entrust the organization of this Jubilee to the Pontifical Council for Promotion of the New Evangelization, that [the dicastery] might animate it as a new stage in the journey of the Church on its mission to bring to every person the Gospel of mercy.

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