Pope Francis describes himself as “a sinner”
in need of God’s mercy, in an upcoming book
where he also urges the Catholic Church to
focus on its mission as a grassroots, hands-on
organisation.
Pope Francis AFP PHOTO
The first book of his papacy, “The Name of
God is Mercy,” published on Tuesday in 86
countries, comprises a series of interviews,
some of them highly personal, with the 79-
year-old Argentine-born pope.
In extracts from the French-language edition
provided to AFP by the French publisher
Laffont, the pope calls himself “a man who is
in need of God’s mercy.”
Expounding on the notion of forgiveness, the
pope — a frequent visitor to prisons — refers
to his “special relationship” with convicts.
“I have always been very much attached to
them, precisely because of the awareness that
I have of being a sinner,” Francis says,
according to AFP’s translation of the extracts.
“Every time I cross the doorway of a prison, I
always ask myself, ‘Why are they are here,
and not me?’ I should be here, I should
deserve to be here. Their fall could have been
mine. I don’t feel superior to those in front of
me.”
The pope, interviewed by veteran Vatican
reporter Andrea Tornielli, talks of the power
of “shame,” describing it as guidance from
God for providing a moral path.
“Shame is a grace: When we feel God’s mercy,
we really are ashamed of ourselves. Despite
all our past of wretchedness and sin, God
remains faithful to us and raises us up.”
Turning to the jubilee year he launched on
December 8, whose theme is divine mercy,
the pope says, “The church condemns sin,
because it has to tell the truth: this is a sin.
But at the same time, it embraces the sinner
who acknowledges what he is.”
“I hope that the jubilee will show the face of
a Church which is rediscovering the womb of
mercy,” Francis added.
“A Church that goes out into the world… a
field hospital whose characteristic is to spring
up wherever there’s fighting. Not some
elaborate structure, kitted out with
everything… (but) a mobile structure, for
saving (people), for fast intervention.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/pope-says-hes-a-sinner-in-need-of-gods-mercy/

may God help us all