On Saturday, Pope Francis held the sixth of his “Jubilee audiences” — a general audience that during this Year of Mercy will be held one Saturday a month.
Here is the English-language summary of his address:
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Speaker:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: 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. 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. 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. 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.
Speaker:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England and the Philippines. In the joy of the Risen Lord, I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!
[Original text: English]
