Vatican - Reflecting upon the power of forgiveness, Pope Francis, speaking from a window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on September 17, urged the gathered crowd in St. Peter’s Square to contemplate someone who has caused them pain and to beseech God for the strength to pardon that individual. The Pope emphasized that forgiveness possesses the ability to mend 'the poisons of resentment' and 'restore peace to our hearts'.
In his Angelus message, Pope Francis conveyed that forgiveness is not merely an optional act but a fundamental requirement for those who identify as Christians. He asserted, 'Every one of us, in fact, is ‘forgiven,'' highlighting God's boundless mercy, given freely and never withdrawn. However, by reciprocating this graciousness through forgiving one another, believers can bear witness to God's love and sow renewal in their surroundings.
The Pope underscored that 'outside of forgiveness, there is no hope; outside of forgiveness, there is no peace.' He likened forgiveness to 'oxygen that purifies the air polluted by hatred' and a remedy for the 'many diseases of the heart that contaminate society.'
Pope Francis drew inspiration from the biblical account of Jesus responding to Peter, who had asked, 'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?' The Pope referenced Jesus' reply: 'I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times (Mt 18:21-22).' This, he stressed, illustrates God's immeasurable and boundless capacity for forgiveness, driven by love and given gratuitously.
He concluded by invoking Mary, the Mother of Mercy, to assist believers in embracing God's grace and extending forgiveness to one another.
Following the recitation of the Angelus prayer in Latin, Pope Francis announced his upcoming trip to Marseille, France, on Friday, where he will participate in a meeting of bishops from the Mediterranean region, with a particular focus on the issue of migration. He emphasized the importance of addressing migration as a collective challenge and stressed the need to prioritize human dignity, especially for those most vulnerable.
The Pope referred to Marseille as 'a port of hope' and requested prayers for his journey to the French city on September 22.