THE COMMUNITY DIMENSION OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Vatican City, 20 November 2013 (VIS) – The forgiveness of sins, with reference to the so-called “power of the keys”, biblical symbol of the mission Jesus gave to the Apostles, was the theme of the Pope's catechesis during today's general audience in St. Peter's Square this morning.

“The agent of the forgiveness of sins is the Holy Spirit”, said Pope Francis, explaining that in his first appearance before the Apostles, the risen Christ performed the gesture of breathing on to them, saying “'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'. Jesus, bodily transfigured, is now a new man, who offers the Paschal gifts, the fruit of his death and resurrection: peace, joy, forgiveness of sins, the mission, and above all the Holy Spirit that is the source of all this. The breath of Jesus … indicates the transmission of life, the new life regenerated by forgiveness. But before this gesture … Jesus shows the wounds on his hands and his side: these wounds represent the price of our salvation. The Holy Spirit brings us God's forgiveness, 'passing through' Jesus' wounds”.

In turn, the Church is “the depository of this power. God forgives all men in his sovereign mercy, but He Himself wishes for them to belong to Christ and His Church, receiving pardon through the ministers of the Community. … In this way, Jesus calls us to experience the ecclesial and community dimension of reconciliation. … The Church … accompanies us along the path of conversion throughout our lives. The Church is not the 'owner' of the power of the keys, but is rather the servant of the ministry of mercy”.

“Many people nowadays perhaps do not understand the ecclesial dimension of forgiveness, as individualism and subjectivism dominate”, observed the Pope. “Certainly, God forgives every repentant sinner, personally, but the Christian is bonded with Christ, and Christ is united to the Church. For us, as Christians, it is an extra gift, but it is also an extra commitment; to pass humbly through ecclesial ministry. We must value this. … I go to my brother priest and say, 'Father, I have done this...' and he answers, 'But I forgive you; God forgives you'. In that moment I am sure that God has forgiven me”.

The Pope's final point of reflection was the figure of the priest as a 'tool' in the forgiveness of sins. “The priest, a man who, like us, is in need of mercy, truly becomes an instrument of mercy, bringing us the limitless love of God the Father. … At times we hear of those who claim to confess directly to God … yes, as I said before, God always listens, but in the Sacrament of Reconciliation he sends a brother to bring forgiveness to you, the certainty of forgiveness, in the name of the Church”.

The service that the priest offers as a minister of God in forgiving sins requires that “his heart is at peace; that he does not mistreat the faithful, but rather is humble, benevolent and merciful; that he knows how to sow hope in hearts and, above all, is aware that the brother or sister who seeks the Sacrament of Reconciliation seeks forgiveness and does so in the same way that many people sought Jesus, in order that he might cure them. When a priest who does not have this disposition of spirit it is better if, until this is corrected, he does not administer this Sacrament. The penitent faithful have the right to find, in priests, the servants of God's forgiveness”.

“Let us not forget that God never tires of forgiving us; through the ministry of the priest he holds us in a new embrace that regenerates us and enables us to get up again and continue anew on our path”, the Holy Father concluded.

POPE'S APPEAL TO CLOISTERED LIFE AND THE RURAL FAMILY

Vatican City, 20 November 2013 (VIS) – Following today's general audience, Pope Francis greeted the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. He recalled the victims and families of those affected by the floods that have claimed many lives on the Italian island of Sardinia.

The Pontiff commented that “Pro Orantibus Day”, will be celebrated tomorrow, 21 November, the liturgical memory of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple and a day on which the Church also remembers cloistered monks and nuns. He encouraged those present to support both spiritually and materially those who are called to the cloistered life, to assist them in carrying out the important task entrusted to them. “It is a good occasion to thank the Lord for the gift of the many people who, in monasteries and hermitages, dedicate themselves to God in prayer and constructive silence”.

He went on to mention that on 22 November the United Nations will inaugurate the “International Year of the Family Farming”. “In work, too, the family is a model of fraternity, for living an experience of unity and solidarity between all its members, with greater sensitivity towards those who are most in need of care or assistance, and stemming social conflict at source”, said the Holy Father, who expressed his wish that this initiative might contribute to promoting “the innumerable benefits that the family brings to the economic, social, cultural and moral growth of the entire human community”.

THE POPE PRAYS FOR THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA , STRICKEN BY FLOODS

Vatican City, 20 November 2013 (VIS) – Archbishop Pietro Parolin, secretary of State, has sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis to Archbishop Arrigo Miglio of Cagliari, president of the Sardinian Episcopal Conference, following the floods that struck the island of Sardinia, Italy, claiming lives and causing numerous injuries and extensive material damage.

“It is with great sadness that the Supreme Pontiff has learned of the floods that have affected the island of Sardinia, causing loss of human life, injury and enormous damage and discomfort to many families. His Holiness wishes to extend to all some affectionate words of comfort and encouragement, assuring his special prayers for those who have lost their lives and for all those affected by this grave disaster. The Holy Father expresses his hope that the solidarity and necessary assistance in facing this difficult moment will be forthcoming, and imparts his heartfelt apostolic benediction”.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 20 November 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Armando Antonio Ortiz Aguirre of the clergy of Leon, Mexico, as bishop of Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas (area 14,800, population 846,000, Catholics 787,000, priests 43, religious 82), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Guanajuto, Mexico in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1977. He has served in a number of pastoral roles within the archdiocese of Leon, including formator, prefect of discipline, spiritual director and head of the preparatory course in the minor seminary; vice rector and professor at the major seminary; chaplain of the “Sanatorio Moderno Pablo de Anda” and spiritual director of the faculty of theology of the seminary of Leon. He is currently priest of the parish of “San Maximiliano Koolbe” and co-ordinator general of the diocesan presbyteral commission.