‘You are the outstretched hand of Christ,’ Pope tells workers of mercy

September 05, 2016

On September 4, as part of the extraordinary jubilee year of mercy, Pope Francis addressed pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the jubilee of volunteers and workers of mercy.

After reflecting on the immense love of God, Pope Francis said that “the Church can never allow herself to act as that priest and Levite who ignored the man half dead at the side of the road. She cannot look away and turn her back on the many forms of poverty that cry out for mercy.”

“Human mercy is not authentic until it has attained tangible expression in the actions of our daily life,” he continued, adding:

You are the outstretched hand of Christ: have you thought this? The credibility of the Church is also conveyed in a convincing way through your service to abandoned children, to the sick, the poor who lack food or work, to the elderly, the homeless, prisoners, refugees and immigrants, to all struck by natural disasters … The world stands in need of concrete signs of solidarity, especially as it is faced with the temptation to indifference.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Catechesis for Workers of Mercy - 03.09.2016 (YouTube Vatican)
• Udienza ai partecipanti al Giubileo del volontariato e degli operatori di misericordia, 03.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• To volunteers and operators of mercy: your presence is the hand of Christ held out to all, 03.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Pope presides over Jubilee of Volunteer Workers (Vatican Radio)