Editor ’ s Notes
The Quality of Mercy by Fr . Richard Bayuk , c . pp . s ., Editor
“ The quality of mercy is not strained . It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath . It is twice blest : It blesseth him that gives and him that takes .… It is an attribute to God Himself ; And earthly power doth then show likest God ' s When mercy seasons justice .” — William Shakespeare , The Merchant of Venice
On April 15 th , Pope Francis visited St . Paul of the Cross Parish , located in a public housing project outside of Rome . During a question-andanswer session with the children who had gathered , at one point a young boy named Emanuele approached the microphone , smiled at the pope and then froze , and said , “ I can ’ t do it .” Despite encouragement from a papal aide , the boy kept saying , “ I can ’ t do it .” Finally , the pope said , " Come , come to me , Emanuele . Come and whisper it in my ear ." By the time he was helped up onto the platform where the pope was seated , Emanuel was sobbing , and Francis held him in a big embrace , while patting his head and speaking softly to him . They spoke privately before the boy returned to his seat .
Francis told the children , “ If only we could all cry like Emanuele when we have an ache in our hearts like he has . He was crying for his father and had the courage to do it in front of us because in his heart there is love for his father .” Then the pope shared what the boy said to him : “ A little while ago my father passed away . He was a nonbeliever , but he had all four of his children baptized . He was a good man . Is dad in heaven ?”
“ How beautiful to hear a son say of his father , ‘ He was good ,’” the pope told the children . “ And what a beautiful witness of a son who inherited the strength of his father , who had the courage to cry in front of all of us . If that man was able to make his children like that , then it ' s true , he was a good man . He was a good man .… God is the one who says who goes to heaven .” Then the pope asked , “ Does God abandon his children ? Does God abandon his children when they are good ?"— to which the children shouted , “ No .”
" There , Emanuele , that is the answer ," the pope told the boy . " God surely was proud of your father , because it is easier as a believer to baptize your children than to baptize them when you are not a believer . Surely this pleased God very much ." continued on page 4
2 • The New Wine Press • May 2018