At noon today, having concluded the Eucharistic celebration, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who had gathered in Saint Peter's Square on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to celebrate the opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and happy feast day!
Today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception allows us to contemplate Our Lady who, through a unique privilege, was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception. Even while living in a world marked by sin, she was not touched by it: Maria is our sister in our suffering, but not in the evil of sin. Indeed, evil within her was defeated even before it could touch her, for God had filled her with grace (cf Lk 1:28). The Immaculate Conception means that Mary was the first to be saved by the infinite mercy of the Father, the first fruit of the salvation that God wishes to give to every man and woman, in Christ. For this reason, the Immaculate one has become a sublime icon of divine mercy that triumphs over sin. And we, today, at the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy, want to look toward this icon with trusting love and contemplate it in all its splendor, imitating her faith.
In the Immaculate Conception of Mary, we are invited to recognize the dawn of a new world, transformed by the saving work of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The dawn of a new creation brought about by divine mercy. For this reason, the Virgin Mary, who has never been contaminated by sin and always filled with God, is the mother of a new humanity. She is the mother of the re-created world.
Celebrating this feast involves two things. The first: fully welcoming God and his merciful grace into our lives. Second: becoming in our turn, artisans of mercy along an evangelical journey. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception therefore becomes a feast for all of us; with our daily yes, we can overcome our own egotism and make the lives of our brothers and sisters more joyful, giving them hope, wiping away their tears and giving them a bit of joy. Imitating Mary, we are called to become bearers of Christ and proclaimers of his love, looking first to those who are privileged in the sight of Jesus - the ones who Jesus himself indicated when he said: I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to visit me (Mt 25:35-36).
Today's feast of the Immaculate Conception has a specific message to communicate to us: it reminds us that in our lives, everything is a gift, everything is given out of mercy. May the Holy Virgin, the first to be saved, a model for the Church, holy and Immaculate spouse, beloved of the Lord, help us to rediscover divine mercy as a privileged gift for Christianity. We cannot be understood as truly Christian without being merciful, just as we cannot understand God apart from his mercy. Mercy is the synthesizing word of the gospel. It is the fundamental meaning contained the face of Christ: the face that we recognize in various aspects of his existence: when he goes out to meet everyone, when he looks upon the sick, when he sits at table with sinners, and above all when, nailed to the cross, he forgives: that is where we see the face of divine mercy. Do not be afraid: let us allow ourselves to be embraced by the mercy of God that waits for us and forgives everyone. Nothing is sweeter than his mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be caressed by God: the Lord is so good; he forgives everything.
Through the intercession of Immaculate Mary, may mercy take possession of our hearts and transform our lives.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you all most affectionately, especially families, parish groups and associations. A special thought is offered for the members of Catholic Action Italy who today are renewing their commitment to the Association: I wish you all a good journey in formation and service, constantly led by prayer.
This afternoon, I will go to the Piazza di Spagna, to pray at the foot of the statue of Immaculate Mary … and then I will go to Saint Mary Major. I ask you to spiritually unite yourselves with me along this pilgrimage, which is an act of filial devotion to Mary, Mother of Mercy. To her, I will confide the Church and all of humanity, and especially the city of Rome.
Today, Pope Benedict XVI also entered through the Holy Door. Let us all send greetings from here to Pope Benedict!
I wish you all a good feast day, and a Holy Year that is rich in its fruitfulness, with the guidance and the intercession of our Mother. A Holy Year filled with mercy, for you and, through you, for others. Please, ask the Lord also to grant me this grace, for I need it so! Enjoy your lunch and good bye.
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and happy feast day!
Today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception allows us to contemplate Our Lady who, through a unique privilege, was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception. Even while living in a world marked by sin, she was not touched by it: Maria is our sister in our suffering, but not in the evil of sin. Indeed, evil within her was defeated even before it could touch her, for God had filled her with grace (cf Lk 1:28). The Immaculate Conception means that Mary was the first to be saved by the infinite mercy of the Father, the first fruit of the salvation that God wishes to give to every man and woman, in Christ. For this reason, the Immaculate one has become a sublime icon of divine mercy that triumphs over sin. And we, today, at the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy, want to look toward this icon with trusting love and contemplate it in all its splendor, imitating her faith.
In the Immaculate Conception of Mary, we are invited to recognize the dawn of a new world, transformed by the saving work of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The dawn of a new creation brought about by divine mercy. For this reason, the Virgin Mary, who has never been contaminated by sin and always filled with God, is the mother of a new humanity. She is the mother of the re-created world.
Celebrating this feast involves two things. The first: fully welcoming God and his merciful grace into our lives. Second: becoming in our turn, artisans of mercy along an evangelical journey. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception therefore becomes a feast for all of us; with our daily yes, we can overcome our own egotism and make the lives of our brothers and sisters more joyful, giving them hope, wiping away their tears and giving them a bit of joy. Imitating Mary, we are called to become bearers of Christ and proclaimers of his love, looking first to those who are privileged in the sight of Jesus - the ones who Jesus himself indicated when he said: I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to visit me (Mt 25:35-36).
Today's feast of the Immaculate Conception has a specific message to communicate to us: it reminds us that in our lives, everything is a gift, everything is given out of mercy. May the Holy Virgin, the first to be saved, a model for the Church, holy and Immaculate spouse, beloved of the Lord, help us to rediscover divine mercy as a privileged gift for Christianity. We cannot be understood as truly Christian without being merciful, just as we cannot understand God apart from his mercy. Mercy is the synthesizing word of the gospel. It is the fundamental meaning contained the face of Christ: the face that we recognize in various aspects of his existence: when he goes out to meet everyone, when he looks upon the sick, when he sits at table with sinners, and above all when, nailed to the cross, he forgives: that is where we see the face of divine mercy. Do not be afraid: let us allow ourselves to be embraced by the mercy of God that waits for us and forgives everyone. Nothing is sweeter than his mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be caressed by God: the Lord is so good; he forgives everything.
Through the intercession of Immaculate Mary, may mercy take possession of our hearts and transform our lives.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you all most affectionately, especially families, parish groups and associations. A special thought is offered for the members of Catholic Action Italy who today are renewing their commitment to the Association: I wish you all a good journey in formation and service, constantly led by prayer.
This afternoon, I will go to the Piazza di Spagna, to pray at the foot of the statue of Immaculate Mary … and then I will go to Saint Mary Major. I ask you to spiritually unite yourselves with me along this pilgrimage, which is an act of filial devotion to Mary, Mother of Mercy. To her, I will confide the Church and all of humanity, and especially the city of Rome.
Today, Pope Benedict XVI also entered through the Holy Door. Let us all send greetings from here to Pope Benedict!
I wish you all a good feast day, and a Holy Year that is rich in its fruitfulness, with the guidance and the intercession of our Mother. A Holy Year filled with mercy, for you and, through you, for others. Please, ask the Lord also to grant me this grace, for I need it so! Enjoy your lunch and good bye.
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