Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

John Paul II: The Mercy Pope 51 encounter, he forgave Ali Agca, the man who shot him and caused months o f pain. (See When a Pope Asks Forgiveness: The Mea Culpas o f John Paul II, by Luigi Accattoli, Pauline Books and Media, 1998.). In Incamationis Mysterium, November 29, 1998, John Paul II offi­ cially proclaims the Jubilee Year o f the Year 2000. In a beautiful way he describes the year o f Jubilee as the “Year of Mercy.” He asks the Church to exercise the mercy she has received from the Lord by kneeling before God and imploring forgiveness for the past and present sins o f her sons and daughters (no. 11). He prays that the year may be “an especially deep experience o f grace and divine mercy” (no.6). Once again he brings up the Mercy of God as a sign o f the charity that is needed to reduce or even forgive the debt o f the poorer nations, presented earlier in Tertio Millenio Adveniente (no.51): Some nations, especially the poorer ones, are oppressed by a debt so high that repayment is impossible.... The abuses o f power which result in some dominating others must stop: Such abuses are sinful and unjust (no. 12). This focus on the experience o f Divine Mercy is a significant dimen­ sion o f John Paul IPs proclamation o f God’s Mercy as illustrated by a series o f talks on Divine Mercy. The Need to Experience Divine Mercy In a series of talks from 1981 to 1997 John Paul II speaks o f the need for Divine Mercy and the need to experience Divine Mercy in order to “be merciful just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). Pope John Paul II makes his first public visit outside of Rome fol­ lowing his lengthy recuperation, on the Feast o f Christ the King, to the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza near Todi, Italy, where, within a few days, an international congress is to be held to reflect on the Encyclical Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy) one year after its pub­ lication. After celebrating the Holy Sacrifice o f the Eucharist, he makes a strong public declaration about the importance of the message of Mercy: A year ago I published the encyclical Dives in Misericordia. This circumstance made me come to the Sanctuary o f Merciful Love today. By my presence I wish to reconfirm, in a way, the mes-