Mercy is Stronger than Any Wound

“Show them all that they are not only supported by everyone’s affection, love and attention but above all that we need them, in the journey they are on, because we build the Church together.”

With this objective, today in Lyon’s Cathedral of Saint John, a great meeting will bring together separated, divorced and remarried persons invited by the city’s Archbishop, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin.

Starting from Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia, the aim—the Cardinal explains in his letter of invitation addressed to those who are separated— is to help them to understand “just how much stronger God’s mercy is than our difficulties or all the breakups that we may have lived through.” Of course, the Archbishop adds, “God’s Word is a truth that cannot be changed, but it cannot be nailed to a system of thought either” and, quoting Pope Benedict XVI, indicates that these people may bring a breath of fresh air: “because of the suffering you have gone through, you have something new to say to help everyone progress.”

Cardinal Barbarin will open the meeting at 5:30 pm. Then, some testimonies will be shared by parishes where the program of discernment suggested by Pope Francis has been launched. This will be followed by the prayer of Vespers and a moment of conviviality. The Cardinal concludes the letter saying: “If you have felt judged, rejected or left out by a member of our Church because of your marital status, I ask you to forgive me, because none of these attitudes reflects the heart of the servant”, who, “as a bishop of the diocese, I want and I must be”.