True Peace Arises From Divine Mercy
VATICAN CITY, 30 MAR 2008 (VIS) - Today at midday the Pope prayed the Regina Coeli with thousands of pilgrims gathered at his Castelgandolfo residence, where he is currently spending a few days rest. Faithful in St. Peter’s Square were able to follow the event through a television linkup The Pope is due to return to the Vatican this evening.
In opening remarks, the Holy Father recalled how during the Jubilee Year 2000 “Servant of God John Paul II ordained that throughout the Church the Sunday after Easter, apart from being ‘in Albis’ Sunday, should also be called Divine Mercy Sunday. The pronouncement coincided with the canonisation of Faustina Kowalska, a humble Polish nun, who was born in 1905, died in 1938, and was a zealous messenger of the Merciful Jesus.
“Mercy”, the Pope added, “is the central nucleus of the evangelical message. … Merciful love also illuminates the face of the Church and shows itself both through the Sacraments - especially the Sacrament of Penance - and through works of charity. … From divine mercy, which brings peace to hearts, arises authentic peace for the world, peace between peoples, and among various cultures and religions”.