Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered for the Holy Mass reflected on the healing of the leper from the Gospel of Mark. His Holiness Pope Francis emphasized that “leprosy was considered a serious impurity and a leper’s condition was particularly painful because the mentality of the time made him feel impure before God and other people.”
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “We can never understand Christ’s work or Christ himself unless we enter His heart full of compassion. For it is that compassion which prompts Jesus to touch the leper and say- I want to: be cleansed!” Further, His Holiness added, “Touching a leper meant you were infected, interiorly as well as spiritually. In this case, the impurity does not flow from the leper to Jesus to transmit the disease, but from Jesus to the leper to purify him.”
His Holiness Pope Francis reminded that Jesus’ compassion and audacity are admirable because he is consumed with the desire to free that man from the curse that oppresses him. Holy Father concluded his remarks with a prayer asking the intercession of Mary to heal our inner wounds with His infinite mercy, to give us back hope and peace in our hearts.
