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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Pope Francis: "Mercy makes the world... more just."



I am heartened that Pope Frances places primary value on mercy, in part because mercy contributes to the fullness of justice.

In his address from the balcony above St. Peter's Square on Sunday, March 17, 2013, Pope Francis told the crowd that he wanted to talk about mercy, saying he was inspired by a book about forgiveness that he was reading. Citing the author, an elderly German cardinal, and praising him as a "top-notch" theologian, Francis quipped: "Don't think I'm making publicity for my cardinals' books!" drawing a roar of laughter from the crowd.

As they waved national flags and banners proclaiming their faith, the pontiff exhorted his listeners in a brief homily, some of it delivered off the cuff, to remember that without divine compassion and forgiveness, "the world would not exist."

"God's face is that of a merciful father who is always patient," the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics said. "A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just."



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