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Pope: Simple gestures of mercy can start a revolution

Pontiff urges each and every person to perform at least one work of mercy on a daily basis
Pope: Simple gestures of mercy can start a revolution
Published: October 13, 2016 10:51 AM GMT
Updated: October 13, 2016 10:52 AM GMT

All it takes is just one person carrying out one simple, loving act of mercy every day to start a revolution and stamp out the "virus of indifference," Pope Francis said reported CNS.

Sharing God's mercy is not about expending a huge amount of effort or performing "superhuman" acts, he said during his general audience Oct. 12 in St. Peter's Square.

Jesus showed with his words and deeds that it's much simpler than that: It's about making "small gestures that in his eyes, however, hold great value, so much so that he told us we will be judged upon these" actions, the pope said.

As he continued his series of talks about God's mercy, the pope said he would begin looking at each one of the seven corporal and seven spiritual works of mercy in the following weeks.

The audience began with a reading from the Gospel of Matthew's "Judgment of the Nations" (25: 31-46) in which Jesus tells his disciples they will be blessed with eternal life for helping the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill and the prisoner because "whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me." Those who do not bother to help will "go off to eternal punishment."

"Jesus is always present there where there is a need, a person who is in material or spiritual need," the pope said.

Works of mercy are concrete ways to show mercy and be genuine witnesses of the faith, he said.

"I am convinced that through these simple daily gestures we can achieve a true cultural revolution," the pope said, as he urged each and every person to carry out at least one work of mercy each day.

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