Pope gives catechesis on mercy in the Bible

During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis spoke on the mercy of God as spoken about in the Bible. Delivering his catechesis Wednesday in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall, the Pope said in the Old Testament, God reveals he is the God of Mercy. The Holy Father explained how the Hebrew word for Mercy evokes the sort of tenderness shown by a mother for her child.

In Scripture, the Pope said, the God of mercy is gracious, slow to anger, and abounds in “steadfast love and faithfulness.” Pope Francis concluded his catechesis by inviting the faithful during the Jubilee of Mercy to “turn to God with all our heart, trusting in his mercy and grace, his infinite faithfulness and love.”

Below find the official English language summary of Pope Francis’ catechesis:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:  

In this Jubilee Year, our weekly catechesis will explore the mystery of divine mercy.  In the Book of Exodus, God defines himself as the God of mercy.  In words which echo throughout the Old Testament, he tells Moses that he is “the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex 34:6).  The Hebrew word for mercy evokes the tender and visceral love of a mother for her child.  The God of mercy is also gracious, ever ready to understand and forgive.  He is slow to anger, prepared to wait patiently, like a wise farmer, for the seeds of repentance to grow in our hearts.  Likewise, he abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness.  God’s love, freely given, precedes any merit on our part; his faithfulness, like that of the father in the parable of the prodigal son, has no limits.  He waits for us, ever ready to forgive our sins and to welcome us back to a right relationship with him.  In this Year of Mercy, may we turn to God with all our heart, trusting in his mercy and grace, his infinite faithfulness and love.

Sources: Vatican Radio