Pope Francis: the merciful Father rejoices at the repentance of sinners

September 12, 2016

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading at Mass (Lk. 15:1-32), Pope Francis emphasized during his September 11 Angelus address that the merciful God rejoices at the repentance of sinners.

“Jesus presents us the true face of God, a God with his arms always open, a God who deals with sinners with tenderness and compassion,” the Pope told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “God awaits our returning to the journey, he awaits us with patience, he sees us when we are still a long way off, he runs to meet us, he embraces us, he kisses us, he forgives us.”

The Pope added:

Let me ask you a question: Have you ever thought about how each time we go to the confessional, there is joy and celebration in heaven? Have you ever thought of this? It’s beautiful.

This fills us with a great hope because there is no sin in which we may have fallen, from which, with the grace of God, we cannot rise up again. There is never a person who can’t be recovered; no one is unrecoverable, because God never stops wanting our good-- even when we sin!

 

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Further information:

• Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 11.09.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• Angelus Address: On God’s Celebrations Over Repentant Sinners (Zenit)
• Angelus Domini 2016.09.11 (YouTube Vatican)