Offer tenderness and steer clear of hypocrisy

Pope Francis stressed this during his Sunday Angelus address in the Vatican as he recalled the day's Gospel reading according to St. Mark which recounts when Jesus denounces hypocrisy in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Hypocrisy of the scribes

These scribes, the Pope said, held an important role within the community of Israel. While they read, transcribed, and interpreted the Scriptures, and were held in high regard, the Pope lamented that beyond appearances, their behavior often did not correspond to what they taught.