Imitate the Lord’s ‘piety’ toward those who suffer, Pope tells jubilee pilgrims

May 16, 2016

On May 14, Pope Francis held his sixth special Saturday audience for pilgrims who have come to Rome for the extraordinary jubilee year of mercy.

“In our continuing catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we now consider piety, which is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,” Pope Francis told the more than 15,000 pilgrims who gathered in St. Peter’s Square on a rainy day, according to the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “When we hear this word, we think of a certain religiosity or devotion, but its meaning is much richer; like our word ‘pity,’ it has to do with compassion, with mercy.”

“In the Gospels, Jesus is attentive to people’s plea for mercy,” the Pope continued. “He is sensitive to their needs, and he responds with sympathy and love. He encourages them to trust in him and his word, and he works his miracles of healing.”

The Pope added:

We are called to imitate the Lord’s “piety” towards those who cry out to him by rising above our indifference and isolation, and becoming more concerned for the needs of all our brothers and sisters. Mary, Mother of mercy, is the icon of this loving concern and our model of “piety.” May she obtain for us the grace to live this Year of Mercy by growing in compassion and by imitating the infinite “piety” of Jesus her Son.

 

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Further information:

• Holy Year of Mercy - Jubilee audience - 2016.05.14 (YouTube Vatican)
• L’Udienza Giubilare (Holy See Press Office)
• Jubilee audience: take pity on those who suffer (Holy See Press Office)