Pope on Ash Wednesday: Let’s share, be more sensitive

On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis sent a special audio-message to young people, inviting them to live for their heavenly Father and not for what others think of them.

“It is not easy to offer yourself before another man, knowing he represents God, and to confess your sins”, said the pontiff.

As for the main reason behind the trip, Father Jim said Pope Francis gave each priest a mandate to be bearers of Christ’s mercy and to not be judgmental.

Rome-based newspaper Vatican Insider has reported on the Pope’s intention to visit South Caucasus countries Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in September this year.

(Vatican Radio) Speaking on the eve of Pope Francis’ departure for Mexico, the (Vatican) Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Church there is called “to condemn evil and speak out against all negative phenomena such as corruption, drug trafficking, violence and crime which are hindering and delaying the spiritual and material progress of the country”.

“It is not with the cudgel of judgment that we succeed in bringing the lost sheep back to the fold”, he said.

Francis then addressed the missionaries of mercy directly, telling them that their mandate is to be a sign and instrument of God’s forgiveness. He encouraged confessors to be “great forgivers”, not condemners.

“Others who wrongly feel themselves pure ‘only know how to condemn, ‘” Pope Francis said, as Catholic News Agency reported.

“Remember, you are not dealing with sin but a repentant sinner, a sinner who wants to change but can’t”, he said, telling them to “cover the sinner with a blanket of mercy, so that he is no longer ashamed and can rediscover joy”. “He’s so simple – simple words that have a big meaning”, he said. “Trust in the forgiveness of God”, the Pope told priests.

To mark the Vatican’s Year of Mercy, the missionaries of mercy have been given licence by Pope Francis to forgive transgressions which normally only the Pope himself can pardon.

“Let’s listen to Jesus, who says to those who are tired and burdened, ‘Come to me, ‘” since “only the Lord’s grace liberates us” and offers peace and rest, the pope said.

“I’ll tell you something”, he said, “if this jubilee doesn’t reach our pockets, it’s not a real jubilee”.

The missionaries of mercy were introduced to the pope Tuesday by Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. Catholics in churches worldwide were also marking Ash Wednesday with similar ceremonies. “I ask you: don’t get exhausted of forgiving!” the Pope exhorted. “May I take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your willingness to undertake such an important ministry in the Jubilee Year”.