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Dives in Misericordia

Encyclical Letter on God the Father

John Paul II, Pope

Pope John Paul II’s encyclical letter on God the Father

John Paul II began his pontificate with the first of his three Trinitarian encyclicals Redemptor Hominis his great encyclical letter on Jesus Christ. A year later in 1980 Dives in Misericordia his second Trinitarian encyclical was published on God the Father.
The letter is a beautiful exploration of a God who throughout history has shown himself ‘rich in mercy’. Pope John Paul tells the story of God’s mercy beginning with the Old Testament and God’s love shown in the history of the chosen people of God, through to the ultimate act of mercy in sending His son Jesus, the Redeemer of man.
The mercy mankind has received must be passed on to the world. The Church must attempt to bring this mercy to bear upon all levels of society and within every concrete situation, but most of all through conversion.