Pope Francis continues having problems with his sciatica, and was walking more slowly than usual on Wednesday.
In his General Audience, he spoke about St. Joseph's tenderness, which is reflected in Jesus' parables about fathers. That tenderness, the Pope says, is an essential characteristic of God, who always treats people with mercy.
POPE FRANCIS
'Tenderness is not primarily an emotional or sentimental matter: it is the experience of feeling loved and welcomed precisely in our poverty and our misery, and thus transformed by God's love. Look at how nurses touch the wounds of the sick, tenderly, so as not to wound them any more. This is how the Lord touches our wounds, with the same tenderness.'
Pope Francis then returned to one of the main messages of his pontificate. He explained that God is not afraid of our past, even if it is full of mistakes, but rather he fears those whose hearts are closed to love.
POPE FRANCIS
'We all have matters to settle, but coming to terms with God is beautiful, because we begin speaking and He embraces us. It is tenderness. God always forgives, keep this in your head and your heart. God always forgives. We are the ones who tire of asking for forgiveness. But He always forgives, even the ugliest things.'
The Pope urged that this idea be applied to criminal justice, and that people not be condemned 'without windows of hope' for conversion.
Before leaving, the Pope asked for prayers for those affected by the eruption of the underwater volcano in Tonga, and greeted some lay people who translated his catechesis during the Audience.
JMB
TR: JM
