Pope Francis: His Merciful Mission

Merficul Pope Francis before Divine Mercy Jesus

On the first Monday of Easter, Pope Francis was called home to our Lord to his eternal rest. It seems appropriate for him, who was known as the Pope of Mercy, to end his earthly pilgrimage during the Easter season, which is intrinsically linked to God’s merciful message of hope and renewal.

A Mission of Mercy

Pope Francis’ pontificate began with him choosing to retain his personal motto for his episcopal motto because he said the phrase had special meaning to him as it recalled his own vocation. It reads, “Miserando atque eligendo“, which translates to “He looked upon him with mercy and chose him.” 

Throughout his Pontificate, Pope Francis echoed the message of God’s love and mercy. In 2015, he declared the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, a period of prayer and reflection held from December 8, 2015, to November 20, 2016, focusing on God’s mercy and forgiveness. During this time, he wrote the Jubilee Prayer of Mercy and published the book The Name of God is Mercy.

Pope Francis often referred to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of Mercy. He said “In one of the prayers most cherished by Christians, the Salve Regina, we call Mary Mother of Mercy. She has experienced the divine mercy, and has hosted the very source of this mercy in her womb: Jesus Christ.” In 2020, Pope Francis honored Our Lady by adding Mother of Mercy as a new invocation in the Litany of Loreto.

In 2024, Pope Francis continued his mission of mercy, publishing the encyclical Dilexit Nos, which reflects on the merciful love of the heart of Jesus Christ and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus throughout the centuries. A common message in this encyclical is the merciful love of our Lord Jesus Christ for humanity.

Pope Francis Speaks About Mercy

So as we approach Divine Mercy Sunday, we pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of Pope Francis and honor his work and legacy by reflecting on his words about what he considered “Jesus’ most important message.”

“We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it.”

“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”

“For this reason, we can say that mercy is God’s identity card. God of mercy, merciful God.”

“In the parables devoted to mercy, Jesus reveals the nature of God as that of a Father who never gives up until he has forgiven the wrong and overcome rejection with compassion and mercy. We know these parables well, three in particular: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the father with two sons (cf. Lk 15:1-32). In these parables, God is always presented as full of joy, especially when he pardons. In them we find the core of the Gospel and of our faith, because mercy is presented as a force that overcomes everything, filling the heart with love and bringing consolation through pardon.

“She, who has always lived intimately united with her Son, knows better than anyone what he wants: that all men be saved, and that God’s tenderness and consolation will not fail anyone. May Mary, Mother of Mercy, help us to understand how much God loves us.”

“I always like to link the Gospel Beatitudes with Matthew 25, where Jesus presents us with the works of mercy and tells us that we will be judged on them. As you can see, mercy does not just imply being a “good person” nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus, and of our credibility as Christians in today’s world. The Divine Mercy message is a very specific life plan because it involves action.”

“Yes, I believe this is a time for mercy. The Church is showing her maternal side, her motherly face, to a humanity that is wounded.”

“It is a place for urgent care, not a place to see a specialist. I hope that the The Holy Year of Mercy will serve to reveal the Church’s deeply maternal and merciful side, a Church that goes forth toward those who are “wounded,” who are in need of an attentive ear, understanding, forgiveness, and love.”

“…by thinking of the Church as a field hospital, where treatment is given above all to those who are most wounded. A Church that warms people’s hearts with its closeness and nearness.”

“Always have the blanket of mercy at hand, to envelop with its warmth all those who approach you to be forgiven; offer consolation to those who are sad and lonely; be generous because only in this way will the Lord recognize you as his faithful ministers.”

Eternal rest grant unto Francis, O Lord, through Your Mercy that endures forever. Amen!

Written by Martha Haenni, CCL Content Editor, Marketing Events, and PeakDay Podcast host.

References:

Excerpts are from the book The Name of God Is Mercy, by Pope Francis. Random House, 2016.

Pope Francis, Angelus, March 17, 2013.

Pope Francis, Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, 2015.