Benedict XVI in Benin Reflects on Mercy

Consists in Remission of Sins, But Also Divine ‘Redirecting’

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COTONOU, Benin, NOV. 18, 2011 (Zenit.org).- One’s personal history and the history of evangelization lead to the Psalmist’s prayer “I will sing of thy steadfast love,” says Benedict XVI.

The Pope said this today in Benin at an address in Cotonou’s Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy. The Holy Father is in Benin through Sunday, on the second African trip of this pontificate.

“Divine mercy consists not only in the remission of our sins; it also consists in the fact that God, our Father, redirects us, sometimes not without pain, affliction or fear on our part, to the path of truth and light, for he does not wish us to be lost,” the Pontiff explained.

He said this “double expression” of divine mercy “shows how faithful God is to the covenant sealed with each Christian in his or her baptism.”

“Looking back upon the personal history of each individual and of the evangelization of our countries, we can say together with the Psalmist, ‘I will sing of thy steadfast love, O Lord, for ever.'”

He concluded with a prayer to Mary, Our Lady of Africa.

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Full text: www.zenit.org/article-33854?l=english

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