Pope Francis in Sunday Angelus: Jesus heals our wounds so that we can love others

Vatican City, March 30, 2025/09:18 am

Sunday, Pope Francis encouraged Christians to continue their Lent journey as a period of healing and faith in Jesus Christ.

The Vatican released the Angelus message from the Holy Father while the 88-year-old pontiff continues his convalescence in his house in Casa Santa Marta after being released from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome a week ago.

In his reflection written on the parable of the merciful Father with two sons recorded in the Gospel of Saint-Luc, the Holy Father said that the Pharisees were “scandalized” by Jesus and “whispered behind his back” because he welcomed sinners.

“Jesus reveals the heart of God: he is always merciful to all; he heals our wounds so that we can love ourselves as brothers,” he wrote in his message on March 30.

Encourage Christians – who are united in God as brothers and sisters – the Holy Father said that people should especially “live this Lent as a time of healing” in the year of the Jubilee of Hope, adding: “I too, I experience it in this way, in my soul and in my body”.

“Fragility and disease are experiences that we all have in common; All the more, however, we are brothers in salvation that Christ gave us, ”he wrote.

In his message, published on the weekend of March 28 to 30 of the Special Jubilee of Mercy Missionaries, the Pope also expressed his sincere thanks to all those who reflect “the image of the Savior” and work as “healing instruments” through their prayers and action.

Petitions for peace and healing

The Holy Father concluded his Angelus speech with petitions for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, South Sudan and Sudan.

“Trust the mercy of God the Father, we continue to pray for peace,” he wrote.

Speaking about his concern concerning political disorders in South Sudan and Sudan, the Holy Father insisted that the international community worked together to provoke peace in the two African nations.

“It is only in this way that it will be possible to alleviate the suffering of the South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability,” he said.

“And in Sudan, the war continues to claim innocent victims, I urge the parties concerned by the conflict to put the safeguard of the life of their civilian brothers and sisters,” he continued.

Turning to “positive events” in Central Asia, the Holy Father thanked God for the ratification of the border agreement of March 13 between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, describing the agreement as “an excellent diplomatic achievement”.

The Holy Father concluded his message with a prayer asking the Blessed Virgin Mary – the “Mother of Mercy” – to “help the human family to reconcile in peace”.