Pope Francis on Wednesday called on priests to be servants of the Sacrament of Forgiveness.
Speaking
to the the faithful during the weekly General Audience in St. Peter's
Square, the Pope said the Church accompanies us on our journey of
conversion for the whole of our lives, calling us to experience
reconciliation in its communal and ecclesial dimension.
He said that
we receive forgiveness through priests who are the servants of this
sacrament, and that they must recognise - he said - that they too are
are in need of forgiveness and healing and thus they must excercise
their ministry in humilty and mercy.
Below, please find Pope Francis' remarks to English speaking pilgrims, read out in English by an assistant:
Dear
Brothers and Sisters: Today I would like to speak again on the
forgiveness of sins by reflecting on the power of the keys, which is a
biblical symbol of the mission Jesus entrusted to the Apostles.
First
and foremost, we recall that the source of the forgiveness of sins is
the Holy Spirit, whom the Risen Jesus bestowed upon the Apostles.
Hence, he made the Church the guardian of the keys, of this power.
The
Church, however, is not the master of forgiveness, but its servant.
The Church accompanies us on our journey of conversion for the whole of
our lives and calls us to experience reconciliation in its communal and
ecclesial dimension.
We receive forgiveness through the priest.
Through his ministry, God has given us a brother to bring us forgiveness
in the name of the Church.
Priests, who are the servants of this
sacrament, must recognize that they also are in need of forgiveness and
healing, and so they must exercise their ministry in humility and mercy.
Let us then remember always that God never tires of forgiving us.
Let
us truly value this sacrament and rejoice in the gift of pardon and
healing that comes to us through the ministry of priests.