At 11:10am today, in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the Organizers and the team of people who were responsible for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, marking the closing of the Holy Year.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
I am pleased to welcome you after the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee in order to express my personal gratitude for all your work during this Holy Year.
In a special way, I greet the indefatigable Monsignor Rino Fisichella. To him and to his team at the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, I confided the organization of the Jubilee, which was a very busy year, filled with initiatives throughout the Church, where he was able to touch with his very hands, the fruits of God's mercy. In the beginning, my intuition was very simple; as always, the Lord surprises us and surpasses our expectations, and so my desire has become a reality which we are able to celebrate with much faith and joy in the Christian community throughout the world. The Doors of Mercy that were opened in all the Cathedrals and Shrines made it possible for the faithful to find no obstacle to experiencing the love of God. Something really extraordinary happened, and must now be fit into our daily lives in order for us to make mercy a permanent commitment and style of life for all believers.
All of you, in various ways, made it possible that this event of grace be celebrated in an orderly and serene manner, with great numbers of pilgrims, and in a way that highlighted the profound spiritual value that the Jubilee represents. My thoughts of gratitude go first of all to the Minister of the Interior who, as the person responsible for security made it possible for pilgrims, not only in Rome but in all national territories, to experience this Jubilee with the necessary security and tranquility. Together with him, I thank the Chief of Police and the Superintendent of Rome who together with the Vatican Gendarmerie demonstrated how reciprocal collaboration can really offer security services to everyone. I thank the members of the bilateral Commission between the Holy See and the Italian Government in the person of the Under-secretary to the Prime Minister. I cannot forget the Swiss Guard corps and all the Vatican Institutions, especially the Governatorate and the Basilica of Saint Peter for their great sense of dedication. A grateful thought is also offered for all the efforts made by the leaders of the Lazio Region, with the President, above all for the methodical organization of the sanitation services. To the Technical Secretariat, presided over by the Prefect of Rome, which brought together the various administrative bodies, including the Comune of Rome, goes the praise for having made possible the effective performance of all the Jubilee events.
Lastly, my most sincere gratitude to the numerous volunteers from various parts of the world and to all those who collaborated with their daily work, sometimes silently and discretely, to make this extraordinary Jubilee truly an experience of grace.
If you wish to obtain mercy, you yourself should be merciful (Saint Augustine, Speech 259, 3). These words spoken by Saint Augustine can provide comfort for all of us. With your commitment, you have offered not only a competent contribution, but you have also demonstrated a real service of mercy to millions of pilgrims who came to Rome. May your fatigue be compensated with the experience of mercy which the Lord will never forget. Thank you.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to organizers of the
Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
I am pleased to welcome you after the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee in order to express my personal gratitude for all your work during this Holy Year.
In a special way, I greet the indefatigable Monsignor Rino Fisichella. To him and to his team at the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, I confided the organization of the Jubilee, which was a very busy year, filled with initiatives throughout the Church, where he was able to touch with his very hands, the fruits of God's mercy. In the beginning, my intuition was very simple; as always, the Lord surprises us and surpasses our expectations, and so my desire has become a reality which we are able to celebrate with much faith and joy in the Christian community throughout the world. The Doors of Mercy that were opened in all the Cathedrals and Shrines made it possible for the faithful to find no obstacle to experiencing the love of God. Something really extraordinary happened, and must now be fit into our daily lives in order for us to make mercy a permanent commitment and style of life for all believers.
All of you, in various ways, made it possible that this event of grace be celebrated in an orderly and serene manner, with great numbers of pilgrims, and in a way that highlighted the profound spiritual value that the Jubilee represents. My thoughts of gratitude go first of all to the Minister of the Interior who, as the person responsible for security made it possible for pilgrims, not only in Rome but in all national territories, to experience this Jubilee with the necessary security and tranquility. Together with him, I thank the Chief of Police and the Superintendent of Rome who together with the Vatican Gendarmerie demonstrated how reciprocal collaboration can really offer security services to everyone. I thank the members of the bilateral Commission between the Holy See and the Italian Government in the person of the Under-secretary to the Prime Minister. I cannot forget the Swiss Guard corps and all the Vatican Institutions, especially the Governatorate and the Basilica of Saint Peter for their great sense of dedication. A grateful thought is also offered for all the efforts made by the leaders of the Lazio Region, with the President, above all for the methodical organization of the sanitation services. To the Technical Secretariat, presided over by the Prefect of Rome, which brought together the various administrative bodies, including the Comune of Rome, goes the praise for having made possible the effective performance of all the Jubilee events.
Lastly, my most sincere gratitude to the numerous volunteers from various parts of the world and to all those who collaborated with their daily work, sometimes silently and discretely, to make this extraordinary Jubilee truly an experience of grace.
If you wish to obtain mercy, you yourself should be merciful (Saint Augustine, Speech 259, 3). These words spoken by Saint Augustine can provide comfort for all of us. With your commitment, you have offered not only a competent contribution, but you have also demonstrated a real service of mercy to millions of pilgrims who came to Rome. May your fatigue be compensated with the experience of mercy which the Lord will never forget. Thank you.
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