World Youth Day USA Guides Retreat Manual | Page 43

Leader: These are a few examples of the ways

Homily for the Mass for the Procession of the Chair of

Jesus shows and teaches mercy, compassion

the Bishop of Rome (April 7, 2013)

and forgiveness. Jesus transforms suffering into

vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2013/docum

something redemptive by taking it upon himself

ents/papa-francesco_20130407_omelia-possessocattedra-laterano.html

on the Cross. He shows us compassion, literally
“suffering with us,” in the most radical way

“How good it feels to come back to him

ever – through the Crucifixion (Mt 27:33-56,

whenever we are lost! Let me say this once

Mk 15:22-41, Lk 23:33-49, Jn 19:16-37).

more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are
the ones who tire of seeking his mercy…Time

Pope Francis and Mercy

and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has spoken

one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon

and written on the theme of mercy on numerous

us by this boundless and unfailing love.”

occasions. A collection of many of his early statements,

Evangelii Gaudium, 3.

homilies, and speeches on this topic was compiled by

vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/do

Loyola Press in their publication, The Church of

cuments/papa-francesco_esortazione-

Mercy by Pope Francis: A Vision for the

ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html

Church (2014). Some highlights from the Holy

“Let us respond, not like those who push away

Father’s writings on mercy include the following, which

people who make demands on us, as if serving

can also be found on the Vatican website:

the needy gets in the way of our being close to
the Lord. No! We are to be like Christ, who

“Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose

responds to every plea for his help with love,

confidence, let us never give up: there are no

mercy and compassion.” Homily for Closing Mass

situations which God cannot change, there is

of the Sixth Asian Youth Day (August 17, 2014)

no sin which he cannot forgive if only we open

vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2014/docum

ourselves to him.” Homily for Easter Vigil

ents/papa-francesco_20140817_corea-omelia-gioventu-

(March 30, 2013)

asiatica.html

vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2013/docum
ents/papa-francesco_20130330_veglia-pasquale.html

“We need constantly to contemplate the
mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy,

“What a beautiful truth of faith this is for our

serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on

lives: the mercy of God! ...For God, we are not

it.” Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of

numbers, we are important: indeed we are the

Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus, no. 2 (April 11, 2015)

most important thing to him; even if we are

vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/papa

sinners, we are what is closest to his heart.”

-francesco_bolla_20150411_misericordiae-vultus.html

41