2. Forgiveness! Christ taught us to forgive. He spoke of forgiveness many times and in various ways. When Peter asked him how many times he should forgive his neighbour – ‘up to seven times?’ – Jesus replied that he should forgive ‘seventy times seven’ (Mt 18:21ff). In practice, this means always: indeed, the number ‘seventy’ multiplied by ‘seven’ is symbolic, and signifies, rather than a specific quantity, an incalculable, infinite quantity. In answering the question of how one ought to pray, Christ uttered those magnificent words addressed to the Father: ‘Our Father who art in heaven’; and amongst the petitions that make up this prayer, the last one speaks of forgiveness: ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors’ – that is, those who have wronged us. Finally, Christ himself confirmed the truth of these words on the Cross, when, turning to the Father, he implored: ‘Forgive them!’, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34).
‘Forgiveness’ is a word spoken by a man who has been wronged. Indeed, it is the word of the human heart. In this word of the heart, each of us strives to overcome the barrier of enmity that may separate us from another, seeking to rebuild the inner space of understanding, contact and bond. Christ taught us through the words of the Gospel, and above all through his own example, that this space opens up not only before our fellow human beings, but at the same time before God himself. The Father, who is the God of forgiveness and mercy, desires to act precisely within this space of human forgiveness; he desires to forgive those who are mutually capable of forgiving one another, those who seek to put into practice these words: ‘Forgive us, … as we forgive’.
Forgiveness is a grace which must be contemplated with profound humility and gratitude. It is a mystery of the human heart, which is difficult to expound upon.
5. Christ taught us to forgive. Forgiveness is also indispensable so that God may pose questions to the human conscience, to which He awaits a response in all inner truth.
In this age, when so many innocent people perish at the hands of others, there seems to be a particular need to draw near to each of those who kill, to draw near with forgiveness in our hearts and with the very same question that God, the Creator and Lord of human life, put to the first man who had attempted to take his brother’s life and had taken it away – having taken that which belongs solely to the Creator and Lord of life.
Christ taught us to forgive. He taught Peter to forgive ‘up to seventy times seven’ (Mt 18:22). God himself forgives when man responds to the question addressed to his conscience and his heart with all the inner truth of conversion.
Leaving judgement and sentence in their definitive form to God himself, let us never cease to ask: ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors’.
[Pope John Paul II, General Audience, 21 October 1981]
Dialogo e Solstizio
Sep 5, 2026
Written by
don Giuseppe Nespeca
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A space that opens up before us
don Giuseppe Nespeca
Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".
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The more we do for others, the more we understand and can appropriate the words of Christ: “We are useless servants” (Lk 17:10). We recognize that we are not acting on the basis of any superiority or greater personal efficiency, but because the Lord has graciously enabled us to do so [Pope Benedict, Deus Caritas est n.35]
Quanto più uno s'adopera per gli altri, tanto più capirà e farà sua la parola di Cristo: « Siamo servi inutili » (Lc 17, 10). Egli riconosce infatti di agire non in base ad una superiorità o maggior efficienza personale, ma perché il Signore gliene fa dono [Papa Benedetto, Deus Caritas est n.35]
Each time we celebrate the dedication of a church, an essential truth is recalled: the physical temple made of brick and mortar is a sign of the living Church serving in history (Pope Francis)
Ogni volta che celebriamo la dedicazione di una chiesa, ci viene richiamata una verità essenziale: il tempio materiale fatto di mattoni è segno della Chiesa viva e operante nella storia (Papa Francesco)
It is a happy image with which, however, Jesus teaches a truth that calls us into question […] If we remove God, we remove Christ and the world falls back into emptiness and darkness (Pope Benedict)
E’ un’immagine felice, con cui però Gesù insegna una verità che ci mette in discussione […] Se togliamo Dio, se togliamo Cristo, il mondo ripiomba nel vuoto e nel buio (Papa Benedetto)
We would also like to set an example ourself, even if the smallness of our means might prevent anyone from appreciating the practical and quantitative significance of it. We want to see our own charitable institutions undergo a new development in the struggle against hunger and toward meeting the main needs of the world. This is the way and the only way to build peace (Pope Paul VI)
Vorremmo anche Noi dare l'esempio, sebbene l'esiguità dei Nostri mezzi ci impedisca di farne apprezzare la rilevanza pratica e quantitativa: Noi vogliamo dare alle Nostre istituzioni caritative un nuovo sviluppo in favore della fame e dei bisogni del mondo: è in questo modo, e non altrimenti, che si costruisce la pace (Papa Paolo VI)
As St. Ambrose put it: You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his (Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio n.23)
Non è del tuo avere, afferma sant’Ambrogio, che tu fai dono al povero; tu non fai che rendergli ciò che gli appartiene (Papa Paolo VI, Populorum Progressio n.23)
Here is the entire Gospel! Here! The whole Gospel, all of Christianity, is here! But make sure that it is not sentiment, it is not being a “do-gooder”! (Pope Francis)
Qui c’è tutto il Vangelo! Qui! Qui c’è tutto il Vangelo, c’è tutto il Cristianesimo! Ma guardate che non è sentimento, non è “buonismo”! (Papa Francesco)
Christianity cannot be, cannot be exempt from the cross; the Christian life cannot even suppose itself without the strong and great weight of duty [Pope Paul VI]
Il Cristianesimo non può essere, non può essere esonerato dalla croce; la vita cristiana non può nemmeno supporsi senza il peso forte e grande del dovere [Papa Paolo VI]
The horizon of friendship to which Jesus introduces us is the whole of humanity [Pope Benedict]
L’orizzonte dell’amicizia in cui Gesù ci introduce è l’umanità intera [Papa Benedetto]
The Church invites believers to regard the mystery of death not as the "last word" of human destiny but rather as a passage to eternal life (Pope John Paul II)
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