Lack of justice, peace shows sin still paralyzes people, pope says

Published: 2006-02-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The lack of justice and peace in the world is a sign that despite people's good intentions, sin still paralyzes many of them, Pope Benedict XVI said. Reciting the Angelus Feb. 19, Pope Benedict said the day's Gospel reading about Jesus forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man and healing him demonstrates that Christ's primary mission is to heal souls. "The paralyzed man is the image of every human being impeded by sin from moving freely, from walking on the path of goodness, from giving the best of himself," the pope said. "Evil, nesting in the soul, binds man with the ropes of lies, anger, envy and the other sins, and paralyzes him little by little," he said. The presence of sin prevents humanity from fully developing "those values of brotherhood, justice and peace" which are celebrated and proclaimed in solemn declarations signed by most countries in the world, he said.

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