Pope Francis celebrated Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Peter's Square accompanied by 550 Missionaries of Mercy. They are the group of priests around the world appointed to forgive the gravest of sins during the Year of Mercy. After the Jubilee, Pope Francis extended their work and their mission still continues today.
In his homily, the pope asked Christians not to close off to God's mercy, which is experienced through forgiveness.
POPE FRANCIS
“I ask myself and I ask everyone one of you, 'Do I let myself be forgiven?' To experience love, we need to begin there: Do I let myself be forgiven?”
Pope Francis additionally stated it's necessary to ask for the 'grace to understand shame.' He explained it is not a closed door, but a first step toward an encounter, especially after one has sinned.
POPE FRANCIS
“When we feel ashamed, we should be grateful: this means that we do not accept evil, and that is good. Shame is a secret invitation of the soul that needs the Lord to overcome evil. The tragedy is when we are no longer ashamed of anything.”
The pope also said that one should never lose hope when committing the same sins, but instead should insist on asking for mercy. He continued saying with every experience of forgiveness one feels renewed and even more loved.
He then prayed the Regina Coeli prayer and condemned a new chemical attack in Syria that cost the lives of dozens of people, especially women and children, in the city of Douma.
POPE FRANCIS
“Let us pray for all the deceased, for the wounded, for the families who suffer. There is no good war or bad war. Nothing, nothing, can justify the use of such instruments of extermination against unarmed people and populations. Let us pray that political and military leaders choose another path, that of negotiation, the only one that can lead to a peace other than that of death and destruction.”
Before leaving, the pope personally greeted some of the Missionaries of Mercy and encountered this little boy who wanted to hug him.
