VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXVI - # 7   
   DATE 13-01-2016   
      
   Summary:   
   - General audience: new cycle of catechesis on mercy in the Bible   
   - Francis prays for the victims of the Istanbul attack   
      
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    General audience: new cycle of catechesis on mercy in the Bible   
    Vatican City, 13 January 2016 (VIS) - During today's general audience, which   
   took place in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the Pope began a new cycle of   
   catechesis dedicated to mercy from a Biblical perspective, to foster an   
   understanding of what mercy is through listening to what God Himself teaches us   
   with His Word.   
    Francis referred to a passage from the Book of Exodus in which the Lord   
   describes Himself as "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding   
   in steadfast love and faithfulness". "In other texts too we encounter this   
   formula, with some variation, but stress is always placed on the mercy and love   
   of God Who never tires of forgiving", he said, before going on to analyse each   
   of these terms used in the sacred Scripture to describe God.   
    The word "merciful" evokes an attitude of tenderness, "like that of a mother   
   towards her child. Indeed, the Hebrew word used in the Bible makes us think of   
   the maternal womb. Therefore the image suggested is that of a God who is moved   
   to tenderness for us like a mother when she holds her child in her arms,   
   wishing   
   only to love, protect and help him, willing to give everything, even herself. A   
   love, then, that can be defined as ... visceral".   
    The Lord is full of pity and compassion; in His greatness "He stoops to those   
   who are weak and poor, always ready to welcome, understand and forgive". He is   
   like the father in the parable of the prodigal son "who does not close himself   
   in resentment at his abandonment by his youngest son, but on the contrary   
   continues to wait for him, and then runs out to meet and embrace him. He does   
   not even let him finish his confession ... so great is his love and joy at   
   finding him again".   
    Of this merciful God it is also said that He is "slow to anger", as if He   
   waited before responding, breathing deeply without losing patience. "God knows   
   how to wait: He does not have the impatience of men. He is like the wise farmer   
   who knows how to wait, who leaves time to let the good seed grow, rather than   
   weeds".   
    Finally, the Lord proclaims Himself "abounding in steadfast love and   
   faithfulness". "How beautiful is this definition of God!", exclaimed the Pope.   
   "Here we find everything. Because God is great and powerful, but this greatness   
   and power are shown in loving us, so small and incapable as we are. The word   
   'to   
   love' as used here indicates affection, grace, goodness. It is the love that   
   takes the first step, that does not depend upon human merits but on an immense   
   gratuity. It is the divine solicitude that nothing can stop, not even sin, as   
   it   
   goes beyond sin, conquering evil and forgiving it. A faithfulness without   
   limits: here is the last word of God's revelation to Moses. God's faithfulness   
   never ceases because the Lord ... never sleeps, but rather keeps watch over us   
   continually to bring us to life".   
    "God is always and completely loyal", concluded Francis. "His is a solid and   
   stable presence. It is the certainty of our faith. In this Jubilee of Mercy,   
   let   
   us trust fully in Him, to feel the joy of being loved by this merciful and   
   clement God, slow to anger and great in love and faithfulness".   
      
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    Francis prays for the victims of the Istanbul attack   
    Vatican City, 13 January 2016 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience,   
   the Holy Father invited prayer for the victims of the attack that took place   
   yesterday afternoon in Istanbul. "May the Lord, the Merciful, grant eternal   
   peace to the departed, consolation to their families and steadfast solidarity   
   to   
   all of society, and convert the hearts of the violent".   
      
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