Pope Francis: Church does not need dirty money, it needs hearts open to God


Pope Francis says the Church has no need for money that comes from the exploitation of people. What it needs is that the hearts of people are open to God's mercy. Addessing the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square for the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope reflected on God's fatherly love and forgiveness. When God's children go astray, the Pope said, God calls out to them lovingly and never disowns them. "The most evil of men, the most evil of women, and the most evil of peoples are still His children" he said.

"The Lord never disowns us; he always calls us to be close to Him. This is the love of our Father, the mercy of God," the Pope said. "To have a Father like this gives us hope and trust" he said.

Commenting on the fact that "when a person is sick he turns to the doctor; when he feels he has sinned" Francis said: "he must turn to God."

Referring to the day's reading, Pope Francis said: "So often we do not go to the Lord, but prefer to take the wrong path, seeking a justification, justice or peace without him. God, says the prophet Isaiah, does not delight in the blood of bulls and of lambs, particularly if the offering is is made by hands stained with our brothers' blood.

"I think of some benefactors of the Church, who come with an offering for the Church but their offer is the fruit of the blood of people who have been exploited, enslaved with work which was under-payed" he said. "I will tell these people to please take back their cheques. The People of God don't need their dirty money but hearts that are open to the mercy of God."

Reflecting on how the prophet Isaiah presents God in the Scriptures, he said that this fatherly love of the Lord also involves correction, a summons to conversion and the renewal of the Covenant.

If he chastises his people, the Pope said, it is to move them to repentance and conversion, and in his mercy, he asks them to turn back to him with all their hearts and to receive a righteousness that is itself his gift. "Though our sins be like scarlet, he will make them white as snow" he said.

Pope Francis concluded with a special thought for the many refugees who are attempting to enter Europe and do not know where to go. Pope Francis invited the faithful to be open, during this year of grace, to our heavenly Father's merciful invitation to come back to him and to experience this miracle of his love and forgiveness.

Source: Vatican Radio