Vatican City, Sep 14, 2014 / 08:33 am
On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, Pope Francis used basic questions about the necessity of salvation to draw listeners deeper into Christ's saving mystery.
Addressing the crowds gathered in Saint Peter's Square before leading them in praying the Angelus, the Pontiff explained that the cross which Christians "exalt" is not just any cross: it is the Cross of Jesus Christ, in which "is revealed the greatest love of God for humanity."
"The Father 'gave' the Son to save us, and this has entailed the death of Jesus, and the death on the cross."
This cross, moreover, is necessary "because of the gravity of evil which enslaved us. It conveys all of the negative strength of evil," as well as "all of the omnipotent gentleness of God's mercy."