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                               VIS-Press releases

GOD IS NOT CONDITIONED BY OUR HUMAN PREJUDICES

VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2010 (VIS) - Today at midday, Benedict XVI appeared at the
window of his study to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered in St. Peter's
Square.

"Luke the Evangelist dedicates particular attention to the subject of Jesus'
mercy", said the Pope commenting on today's Gospel readings. "In
his account,
in fact, we find a number of episodes that highlight the merciful love of God,
and of Christ Who affirms that He has come to call not the righteous but
sinners", as in the case of Zaccheus the publican, collector of the taxes the
Jews paid to the Romans and thus considered a great sinner.

For this reason Jesus aroused great scandal for staying with Zaccheus when He
passed through Jericho. "Nonetheless, the Lord well knew what He was doing. He,
so to speak, chose to risk, and He won the bet: Zaccheus was profoundly touched
by Jesus' visit and decided to change life, promising to restore four times
what he had stolen".

"God excludes no-one, neither rich or poor. God does not allow Himself to be
conditioned by our human prejudices but sees in everyone a soul to be saved,
and He is especially attracted by those who are considered lost, or who
consider themselves to be so. Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, showed this
immense mercy, which takes nothing from the gravity of the sin but always seeks
to save the sinner, to offer him a chance to redeem, to start again, to
convert".

"Zaccheus accepted Jesus and converted, because Jesus had first accepted Him.
Jesus did not condemn him but accommodated his desire for salvation. Let us
pray to the Virgin Mary ... that we too may experience the joy of being visited
by the Son of God, ... and transmit His mercy to others", the Pope concluded.

After praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI recalled how yesterday in the cathedral
of Oradea Mare in Romania, Cardinal Peter Erdo proclaimed as blessed Szilard
Bogdanffy, bishop and martyr. "In 1948, when he was thirty-eight years
old",
said the Pope, "he was clandestinely consecrated as a bishop, and shortly
afterwards arrested by the communist regime of his country, with the accusation
of conspiracy. After four years of suffering and humiliation, he died in
prison. Let us give thanks to God for this heroic pastor of the Church who
followed the Lamb unto death. May his witness bring comfort to those who are
suffering for the Gospel today".
ANG/VIS 20101103 (420)

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