Pope Francis encouraged worldwide devotion to Divine Mercy on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the first revelation of Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, which took place on February 22, 1931 in the nunnery. in the convent of Płock (Poland).
This was stated by the Holy Father in a letter to the Bishop of Płock, Mons. Piotr Libera, with whom he expressed his spiritual closeness to the faithful who celebrate this anniversary.
In the letter, the Pontiff shared the joy of the Church in Płock and encouraged that “this particular event be known throughout the world and remain alive in the hearts of the faithful.”
In addition, the Holy Father recalled the words that St. Faustina received from Jesus and that she wrote in her diary: “Humanity will not find peace, until it turns with confidence to my mercy.”
In this line, the Pope encouraged all the faithful to “ask Christ for the gift of mercy” and to have “the courage to return to Jesus, to find his love and mercy in the sacraments” to experience “his nearness.” and tenderness “to be” more capable of mercy, patience, forgiveness, and charity. “
Finally, the Holy Father emphasized in the letter that St. John Paul II, apostle of mercy, wished all the inhabitants of the earth to know the message of God’s merciful Love.
For this he quoted the words of the Polish Pope uttered in 2002 during a visit to his homeland: “This fire of mercy must be transmitted to the world,” because “in the mercy of God the world will find peace, and man, happiness. “
In this regard, Pope Francis greeted the end of the Sunday Angelus on February 21 to the Polish faithful and recalled that the Shrine of Płock, Poland, “where ninety years ago the Lord Jesus manifested in St. Faustina Kowalska , entrusting him with a special message of Divine Mercy “.
The Pontiff stressed that “through St. John Paul II, this message reached the whole world” and added that the message of Divine Mercy “is none other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died and went resurrected from the dead, which is given to us by the mercy of the Father “.
“We open our hearts to Him, saying in faith: Jesus, in You I trust”, Invited the Holy Father.
Translated and adapted by Mercedes De la Torre. Originally published in ACI printing