Vatican City, Sep 15, 2013 / 08:04 am
In his Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father said the "joy of God" is ultimately found in pardoning another for his wrongdoing, just as in the parable of the Prodigal Son.
"What is the joy of God? It is to forgive!" the Pope told pilgrims Sept. 15, explaining that in this teaching "is the whole Gospel, it is all of Christianity!"
Forgiveness, he warned, "is not a sentiment – it is not 'feeling good' – on the contrary, mercy is the true force that can save man and the world from the cancer that is sin, bad morality or bad spirituality."
"Only love fills up the emptiness, the negative chasms that evil opens in hearts and in history," continued the Pontiff.