The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness

Cargas opens with the idea that he prays for mercy rather than justice. He acknowledges that forgiveness can be misunderstood—that it can place one human being above another—but that it remains a virtue.

Cargas addresses a reference in Christian Scripture to “unforgivable sin,” interpretations of which vary. He argues, however, that if there is an unforgivable sin, certainly the Nazis have committed it. He himself would not be able to forgive Karl, as Simon could not.