Vatican City, Nov 21, 2018 / 03:13 am
People need the mercy of God and the healing of the Holy Spirit to root out the sin in their lives – they cannot do it on their own, Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.
"It is useless to think of being able to correct oneself without the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is futile to think of purifying our heart in a titanic effort of only our will. This is not possible," he said Nov. 21.
"We must open ourselves to relationship with God, in truth and in freedom," he urged, "only in this way can our labors bear fruit. Because it is the Holy Spirit that carries us forward."
Before the start of the general audience, the pope greeted and blessed an ill woman, who was brought to the square by her family, and accompanied by medical personnel.