VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXVI - # 7
DATE 13-01-2016

Summary:
- General audience: new cycle of catechesis on mercy in the Bible
- Francis prays for the victims of the Istanbul attack

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 General audience: new cycle of catechesis on mercy in the Bible
 Vatican City, 13 January 2016 (VIS) - During today's general audience, which
took place in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the Pope began a new cycle of
catechesis dedicated to mercy from a Biblical perspective, to foster an
understanding of what mercy is through listening to what God Himself teaches us
with His Word.
 Francis referred to a passage from the Book of Exodus in which the Lord
describes Himself as "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding
in steadfast love and faithfulness". "In other texts too we encounter this
formula, with some variation, but stress is always placed on the mercy and love
of God Who never tires of forgiving", he said, before going on to analyse each
of these terms used in the sacred Scripture to describe God.
 The word "merciful" evokes an attitude of tenderness, "like that of a mother
towards her child. Indeed, the Hebrew word used in the Bible makes us think of
the maternal womb. Therefore the image suggested is that of a God who is moved
to tenderness for us like a mother when she holds her child in her arms,
wishing
only to love, protect and help him, willing to give everything, even herself. A
love, then, that can be defined as ... visceral".
 The Lord is full of pity and compassion; in His greatness "He stoops to those
who are weak and poor, always ready to welcome, understand and forgive". He is
like the father in the parable of the prodigal son "who does not close himself
in resentment at his abandonment by his youngest son, but on the contrary
continues to wait for him, and then runs out to meet and embrace him. He does
not even let him finish his confession ... so great is his love and joy at
finding him again".
 Of this merciful God it is also said that He is "slow to anger", as if He
waited before responding, breathing deeply without losing patience. "God knows
how to wait: He does not have the impatience of men. He is like the wise farmer
who knows how to wait, who leaves time to let the good seed grow, rather than
weeds".
 Finally, the Lord proclaims Himself "abounding in steadfast love and
faithfulness". "How beautiful is this definition of God!", exclaimed the Pope.
"Here we find everything. Because God is great and powerful, but this greatness
and power are shown in loving us, so small and incapable as we are. The word
'to
love' as used here indicates affection, grace, goodness. It is the love that
takes the first step, that does not depend upon human merits but on an immense
gratuity. It is the divine solicitude that nothing can stop, not even sin, as
it
goes beyond sin, conquering evil and forgiving it. A faithfulness without
limits: here is the last word of God's revelation to Moses. God's faithfulness
never ceases because the Lord ... never sleeps, but rather keeps watch over us
continually to bring us to life".
 "God is always and completely loyal", concluded Francis. "His is a solid and
stable presence. It is the certainty of our faith. In this Jubilee of Mercy,
let
us trust fully in Him, to feel the joy of being loved by this merciful and
clement God, slow to anger and great in love and faithfulness".

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 Francis prays for the victims of the Istanbul attack
 Vatican City, 13 January 2016 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience,
the Holy Father invited prayer for the victims of the attack that took place
yesterday afternoon in Istanbul. "May the Lord, the Merciful, grant eternal
peace to the departed, consolation to their families and steadfast solidarity
to
all of society, and convert the hearts of the violent".

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