Vatican City, Feb 3, 2016 / 04:02 am
When God is described in the Bible as being both merciful and just it can seem like an identity crisis, however Pope Francis said it's the opposite: rather than contradicting each other, the two actually go hand in hand.
"Sacred Scripture presents us with God as infinite mercy, but also as perfect justice. How are these two things reconciled? How can the reality of mercy be articulated with the need for justice?" the Pope said Feb. 3.
While these two characteristics can seem like opposites, "in reality it's not like this, because it's precisely the mercy of God that brings the fulfillment of true justice," Francis affirmed.
The Pope made his comments to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general audience. He recently began a new series of catechesis on the topic of mercy as it is understood in scripture, in honor of the Jubilee of Mercy.