Pope Francis: the adulterous woman represents all of us
March 14, 2016
Reflecting on the woman caught in adultery (Jn. 8:1-11), Pope Francis told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his March 13 Angelus address that “misery and mercy” meet in the woman’s encounter with Jesus.
“Dear brothers and sisters, this woman represents all of us, that we are sinners, adulterers before God, traitors to his loyalty,” the Pope said. “And her experience is God’s will for each of us: not our condemnation, but our salvation through Jesus.”
“God does not nail us to our sin, does not identify us with the wrongs we have committed,” the Pope continued. “He wills that our freedom be converted from evil to good, and this is possible – it is possible! – with his grace.”
The Pope also said that Christ’s words “disarmed” those who were about to throw stones at the woman.
Following the Angelus address, 40,000 elderly volunteers distributed copies of the Gospel of Luke to those gathered in the square. Included in the copies was a list of the seven corporal and seven spiritual works of mercy.
The Pope called upon those who received the Gospel to read it daily and to commit the works of mercy to memory.
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Further information:
- Angelus Domini 2016.03.13 (YouTube Vatican)
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 13.03.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
- ANGELUS ADDRESS: On Us Becoming New Creatures (Zenit)
- Elderly to distribute the Gospel of Mercy in St. Peter's Square tomorrow, 12.03.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
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