September 16, 2013. (Romereports.com) Despite the heavy rains, thousands of people gathered at St. Peter's Square to hear the Pope's Angelus. Pope Francis explained why God's mercy is so important for Christians.   

He also talked about the parable of the prodigal son, adding that true happiness is found in forgiveness, and not in boasting about good deeds done for others. 

POPE FRANCIS 

“This is all the Gospel, here; this is Christianity! But this is not sentimentalism or bland 'do-goodism'; … on the contrary, mercy is the true force that can save man and the world from the 'cancer' of sin, from moral and spiritual malaise.” 

He also warned about the dangers of judging other people, as explained in that same parable. 

POPE FRANCIS  

“If we live according to the law of 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,' we will never escape from the spiral of evil. The devil is cunning; he deludes us that with our human justice we can save ourselves and the world. In reality, only God's justice can save us! It is God's justice that is revealed to us on the Cross.” 

The Pope urged all pilgrims to immediately practice what Jesus preached on forgiveness, despite the challenges. 

POPE FRANCIS 

“I ask you one thing, right now. In silence, everyone think of a person we aren't happy with, someone we are angry with, someone we don't like. Let us think about that person and, in silence, for a moment, let us pray for that person and become merciful towards them.” 

After the Angelus, the Pope also mentioned that on the previous day an Argentine priest named José Gabriel Brochero was beatified. He also thanked everyone who attended the Angelus, despite the bad weather.