Pope says he goes to Mexico as a 'missionary of mercy, peace'
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, ReutersBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICANCITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said his reasons for going to Mexico are "easyand simple.""I want to come as a missionary of mercy andpeace," the pope said in a video message to the Mexican people released bythe Vatican Feb. 7. "I want to meet with you to profess our faith togetherand share a fundamental truth in our lives: that God loves us very much, thathe loves us with an infinite love, beyond our merits."The pope said he was "very happy" for hisapostolic visit Feb. 12-17 and that he carries the people of Mexico in hisprayers and in his heart."I want to be as close as possible to you, but in a specialway to those whosuffer, to hug them and tell them that Jesus loves them very much, that he isalways at their side," he said. One of his "greatest desires" during the six-dayvisit, he said, is to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which housesthe image of Mary that was miraculously imprinted on the cloak ...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN
CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said his reasons for going to Mexico are "easy
and simple."
"I want to come as a missionary of mercy and
peace," the pope said in a video message to the Mexican people released by
the Vatican Feb. 7. "I want to meet with you to profess our faith together
and share a fundamental truth in our lives: that God loves us very much, that
he loves us with an infinite love, beyond our merits."
The pope said he was "very happy" for his
apostolic visit Feb. 12-17 and that he carries the people of Mexico in his
prayers and in his heart.
"I want to be as close as possible to you, but in a special
way to those who
suffer, to hug them and tell them that Jesus loves them very much, that he is
always at their side," he said.
One of his "greatest desires" during the six-day
visit, he said, is to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which houses
the image of Mary that was miraculously imprinted on the cloak of St. Juan
Diego. The pope said that to feel the "tenderness of her gracious
presence" would be a "beautiful" experience.
"There I will look in her eyes and plead that she never
stops looking upon us with mercy because she is our mother in heaven," he
said.
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