The Vatican newspaper l'Osservatore Romano reported today that the Holy Father celebrated Mass this morning in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he is currently living, and spoke of the sweetness of Christ's forgiveness:
Pope Francis celebrated Mass this morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He invited all the priests who customarily live in the Vatican residence to join him. They returned home yesterday, after having left the Domus a few weeks ago in order to leave their rooms free for the Cardinals who had arrived in Rome for the Conclave.
There were about 40 people present with the Holy Father this morning, including officials of the Secretariat of State and other Vatican offices. Archbishop Angelo Acerbi (Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to the Netherlands), Archbishop Peter Paul Prabbu (Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to Zimbabwe) and Archbishop Luigi Travaglino (Apostolic Nuncio to Monaco), were also present. It was a priestly family, to which the Pope said he felt that he belonged, and to which, before imparting the final blessing, he expressed his thanks.
Commenting briefly on today's passage from the gospel of John (Jn 13:21-33; 36-38) in which Jesus speaks of Judas' betrayal and tells Peter that he would deny him three times, the Pope shared with those present his thoughts on two words: The night and the sweetness of Christ's forgiveness. It was night when Judas left the Upper Room, and the Holy Father stressed that it was night both inside him and outside him. However, he recalled, there is another night, a 'temporary' night that everyone knows and in which beyond the darkness there is always hope. It is the night of the sinner who once again finds Jesus, his forgiveness, the 'caress of the Lord'. Pope Francis asked that hearts be opened in order to taste the sweetness of this forgiveness. The same sweetness that is expressed in the look Christ turned on Peter, who had denied him. How beautiful it is to be holy, he concluded, but also how beautiful to be forgiven.
Several sisters of the Secular Institute of Schönstatt were present among the faithful. At the end of the celebration, after a few minutes of silent prayer, while remaining seated at the back of the chapel, Pope Francis greeted everyone there, one by one. And he also had delivered to the priests who live in Sanctae Marthae, a large chocolate Easter egg with the papal coat of arms.
Pope Francis celebrated Mass this morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. He invited all the priests who customarily live in the Vatican residence to join him. They returned home yesterday, after having left the Domus a few weeks ago in order to leave their rooms free for the Cardinals who had arrived in Rome for the Conclave.
There were about 40 people present with the Holy Father this morning, including officials of the Secretariat of State and other Vatican offices. Archbishop Angelo Acerbi (Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to the Netherlands), Archbishop Peter Paul Prabbu (Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to Zimbabwe) and Archbishop Luigi Travaglino (Apostolic Nuncio to Monaco), were also present. It was a priestly family, to which the Pope said he felt that he belonged, and to which, before imparting the final blessing, he expressed his thanks.
Commenting briefly on today's passage from the gospel of John (Jn 13:21-33; 36-38) in which Jesus speaks of Judas' betrayal and tells Peter that he would deny him three times, the Pope shared with those present his thoughts on two words: The night and the sweetness of Christ's forgiveness. It was night when Judas left the Upper Room, and the Holy Father stressed that it was night both inside him and outside him. However, he recalled, there is another night, a 'temporary' night that everyone knows and in which beyond the darkness there is always hope. It is the night of the sinner who once again finds Jesus, his forgiveness, the 'caress of the Lord'. Pope Francis asked that hearts be opened in order to taste the sweetness of this forgiveness. The same sweetness that is expressed in the look Christ turned on Peter, who had denied him. How beautiful it is to be holy, he concluded, but also how beautiful to be forgiven.
Several sisters of the Secular Institute of Schönstatt were present among the faithful. At the end of the celebration, after a few minutes of silent prayer, while remaining seated at the back of the chapel, Pope Francis greeted everyone there, one by one. And he also had delivered to the priests who live in Sanctae Marthae, a large chocolate Easter egg with the papal coat of arms.
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