(Vatican Radio) The mercy of God was at the heart of Pope Francis’ Angelus address
on a rainy Sunday in Rome. Speaking from the papal apartments above St Peter’s Square,
the Pope, taking his inspiration from the Gospel of Luke said that Chapter 15 contains
three parables of mercy, those of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the story of
the prodigal son. He said that all three parables speak of the joy of God, which
is the joy of forgiving. The Holy Father went on to say that this Gospel shows Christianity
at work, adding that mercy is the true force that can save man and the world from
the "cancer" that is the sin, evil, moral, and spiritual. Continuing on the theme
forgiveness, Pope Francis said that Jesus “is all mercy , all love is God made man.”
Each of us, he said “ is the lost sheep, the lost coin , and each of us is the son
who has wasted their freedom following false idols, the illusions of happiness, and
lost everything.” But God, the Holy Father underlined, “does not forget us, the Father
never abandons us. God respects our freedom, but remains faithful . And when we return
to Him, he welcomes us as children, into his house, because he never stops, not even
for a moment, to expect us, with love.” But the Pope also warned against judging
others and judging God because we think he should punish sinners. Instead, said Pope
Francis we should forgive and show mercy. If we live according to the rule “an eye
for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, he noted we will never overcome the spiral of
evil.” Following the recitation of the Marian Prayer, the Holy Father recalled
Blessed José Gabriel Brochero, who was beatified on Saturday in Argentina. Pope Francis
said Bless José was a priest who was driven by the love of Christ, a man who devoted
himself entirely to his flock , He was, the Pope added with the people, and at the
end he was blind and the leper, but full of joy , the joy of the Good Shepherd. Lydia
O'Kane reports