Paus Franciscus - 21 december 2015
Dear brothers and sisters,
Mercy is no fleeting sentiment, but rather the synthesis of the joyful Good News, a choice and decision on the part of all who desire to put on the “Heart of Jesus” H. Paus Johannes Paulus II, Angelus/Regina Caeli, Over het hart van Jezus (9 juli 1989), 1 and to be serious followers of the Lord who has asked us to “be merciful even as your heavenly Father is merciful”. Vgl. Mt. 5, 48 Vgl. Lc. 6, 36 In the words of Father Ermes Ronchi, “Mercy is a scandal for justice, a folly for intelligence, a consolation for us who are debtors. The debt for being alive, the debt for being loved is only repayable by mercy”.
And so may mercy guide our steps, inspire our reforms and enlighten our decisions. May it be the basis of all our efforts. May it teach us when to move forward and when to step back. May it also enable us to understand the littleness of all that we do in God’s greater plan of salvation and his majestic and mysterious working.
