During his General Audience, the Pope highlighted the role of God's mercy in St. Paul's conversion journey “from fierce persecutor of the Church to his call by God's mercy to know the Risen Jesus, and to become an Apostle to the nations.”
The Pope shared that by embracing God's mercy, “Paul invites us to reflect on how God enters into our lives, surprising us, renewing and radically transforming us by the Holy Spirit.” In this way, he said, the Spirit transforms us “to become missionary disciples for the spread of the Gospel and its liberating message.”
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH:
'Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In our continuing catechesis on Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, we now reflect on Paul’s exercise of his apostolic authority.
With fatherly care, Paul reminds the Galatians of his preaching on the new life brought by Christ, and reiterates the Gospel message of freedom from the commands of the Mosaic law. Paul defends his authority as an Apostle, describing with honesty his own journey of conversion – from fierce persecutor of the Church to his call by God’s mercy to know the Risen Jesus, and to become an Apostle to the nations.
In emphasizing the power of the Lord’s mercy at work in his own life, Paul invites us to reflect on how God enters into our lives, surprising us, renewing and radically transforming us by the Holy Spirit, and strengthening us to become missionary disciples for the spread of the Gospel and its liberating message.
I cordially greet the English-speaking faithful. I pray that the coming summer holidays will be a time of refreshment and spiritual renewal for you and your families. Upon all of you I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord. May God bless you!'
