While celebrating his second anniversary in the papacy, Pope Francis presided over a penance service in St Peter's Basilica (6.3.15) during which he announced an extraordinary Jubilee year dedicated to Divine Mercy.
“Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. It is journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. For this reason, I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its centre. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord's words: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)” |
The Holy Year will begin on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2015, and will end on November 20, 2016, the Sunday dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
Pope Francis says that he hopes this celebration might animate a new stage in the journey of the Church on its mission to bring to every person the Gospel of mercy.
“I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this Jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time. From this moment, we entrust this Holy Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey.”
In the extraordinary Jubilee he has called, Francis will also honour the 50th anniversary of the closure of the 1962-1965 Vatican II Council and will encourage the Church to continue on the path of that turning point in Church doctrine and liturgy.
Mercy is a theme Pope Francis is deeply connected with. The episcopal motto he chose when he became a bishop is: "Miserando atque eligendo" (He looked at him with mercy and He chose him).
Pope Francis says that he hopes this celebration might animate a new stage in the journey of the Church on its mission to bring to every person the Gospel of mercy.
“I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this Jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time. From this moment, we entrust this Holy Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey.”
In the extraordinary Jubilee he has called, Francis will also honour the 50th anniversary of the closure of the 1962-1965 Vatican II Council and will encourage the Church to continue on the path of that turning point in Church doctrine and liturgy.
Mercy is a theme Pope Francis is deeply connected with. The episcopal motto he chose when he became a bishop is: "Miserando atque eligendo" (He looked at him with mercy and He chose him).
Joy Notes
Joy Notes provides latest information, ideas and resources for the Year of Mercy and God's Mission: Joy of the Gospel. Click here |
World Youth Day 2016, to be celebrated in the host city of Krakow, Poland, also carries the theme of Mercy: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy”, one of the eight Beatitudes. Pope Francis has asked young people “with all my heart” to read the Beatitudes again and to make them the action plane for their lives:
“Look, read the Beatitudes: that will do you good!” (cf. Meeting with Argentinian youth in Cathedral of São Sebastião, 25 July 2013). |
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