Mercy is overwhelmed by self-interest in the world and by hypocrisy in the Church, Pope Francis said on this morning during his general audience address.
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Pope Francis started the event by pushing open the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica before he held a Mass for almost 70,000 people, Reuters reports.
By passing through the holy door of a church during a Holy Year, Catholics symbolically pass from sin to grace.
The Catholic Jubilee Year of Mercy is open.
Before opening the current Jubilee Year, Francis highlighted the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, a turning point that sought to engage the Catholic Church with the modern world.
“In today’s world, mercy and forgiveness often appear overwhelmed by self-interest, hedonism and venality, while in the Christian life they can be stifled by hypocrisy and worldliness”. It is usually sealed shut at all times, with the only exception during the holy years. “Unlike the times of Martin Luther, indulgences are not a means for the Vatican to make money, but are free for anyone who passes through the holy door”. It was a rare outing for the 88-year-old Benedict, whose historic resignation led to Francis’ election and a papacy dedicated to showing the merciful side of the church.
In his homily, Francis urged the faithful to have courage in their spiritual and daily lives: “Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved”.
Tuesday’s celebrations will conclude in the evening when images by some of the world’s greatest environmental photographers will be projected onto the facade of Saint Peter’s in an initiative linked to the ongoing global climate conference in Paris.
“I’m very honored”, Omernick said of receiving the missionary of mercy title. He says, until we have received, been caressed by the mercy of God, we will not fully understand our discipleship of Christ.
“The Jubilee challenges us to this openness”, he added. Benedict also attended the consistory for the creation of new cardinals last February 14, a meeting with the elderly Francis called in September of 2014, as well as the April 27, 2014, canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII.
Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, explained in a statement that the Pope Emeritus accepted Francis’ invitation to participate in the opening ceremony, which will take place on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
“It was the resumption of a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces”, he said.
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“Projecting onto it a radical environmental message – and one that has no chance of actually resulting in an worldwide agreement, given the unreality of the approach – seems to make the Church just one more global NGO, something Pope Francis has explicitly warned it should not be”, he told LifeSiteNews.
