Heart of Jesus Is Source of Reconciliation, Says John Paul II

VATICAN CITY. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be the source of reconciliation for a world bloodied by conflicts, says John Paul II.

"How much contemporary humanity needs the message that comes from contemplating the heart of Christ, only source from which it can draw the reserves of humility and forgiveness it needs to heal the harsh conflicts that bloody it," the Pope said today.

Addressing the thousands of pilgrims gathered on a blistering hot day in St. Peter´s Square to pray the Angelus, the Holy Father noted that the month of June is especially dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

The celebration of the Sacred Heart, he said, "means to go to the profound center of the person of the Savior, seat of the love that has redeemed the world."

"If the human heart represents an unfathomable mystery that only God knows, how much more unfathomable must Jesus´ be, in which the very life of the Word moves, and in which all the treasures of wisdom and science reside, and all the fullness of divinity," the Pope continued.

"In order to save man, God wished to give him a new heart, the heart of Christ, masterpiece of the Holy Spirit, which began to beat in the virginal womb of Mary and was pierced with a lance on the cross, thus becoming the inexhaustible source of eternal life," John Paul II exclaimed.

He ended by referring to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, "mediatrix of grace and salvation," to whom he prayed for "mercy and peace for the Church and the whole world."

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. The month of June is singled out, in a particular way, for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. To celebrate the Heart of Christ means to turn toward the profound center of the Person of the Savior, that center which the Bible identifies precisely as his Heart, seat of the love that has redeemed the world.

If the human heart represents an unfathomable mystery that only God knows, how much more sublime is the heart of Jesus, in which the life of the Word itself beats. In it, as suggested by the beautiful Litanies of the Sacred Heart that echo the Scriptures, are found all the treasures of wisdom and science and all the fullness of divinity.

In order to save man, victim of his own disobedience, God wished to give him a "new heart," faithful to his will of love (see Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 50[51]:12). This heart is the heart of Christ, the masterpiece of the Holy Spirit, which began to beat in the virginal womb of Mary and was pierced by the lance on the cross, thus becoming for all the inexhaustible source of eternal life. That Heart is now the pledge of hope for every man.

2. How necessary for contemporary humanity is the message that flows from contemplation of the heart of Christ. Where, indeed, if not from that source will it be able to attain the reserves of meekness and forgiveness necessary to heal the bitter conflicts that bloody it?

Today I would like to entrust in a special way to the merciful heart of Jesus all those who live in the Holy Land: Jews, Christians and Muslims. That Heart that, burdened with insult, never nourished sentiments of hatred and vengeance, but asked for forgiveness for his executioners, that Heart shows the only way to emerge from the spiral of violence: the way of pacification of spirits, of reciprocal understanding and reconciliation.

3. Together with the merciful heart of Christ we venerate the Immaculate Heart of Mary Most Holy, Mediatrix of grace and salvation.

We turn to her now with faith to implore for mercy and peace for the Church and the whole world.