Over the years, Pope Francis has explained, through words and gestures, that the mission of the Church is to reveal God's mercy.
He said it in his first Angelus, a few days after his election.
POPE FRANCIS
God understands us. He waits for us. He doesn't get tired of forgiving us, if we repent and go to Him with a truly open heart. Never forget this: The Lord never gets tired of forgiving us. It is we who get tired of asking for forgiveness.
Pope Francis is the first pope to go to confession in public.
He has also heard the confessions of many people, both in Rome and during his papal trips.
In 2015, he called for a jubilee with a special focus on God's mercy.
POPE FRANCIS
I am convinced the whole Church will find in this jubilee, the joy to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which we are all called to comfort every man and woman of our time.
The pope explains that God's mercy doesn't remove the weight of sin, but rather, through confession, allows for the healing of the wounds caused by sin.
POPE FRANCIS
God’s mercy does the same thing. It doesn’t 'paint' us a pretty face, or airbrush the reality of who we are. It isn't photoshop. Rather, with the very threads of our poverty and sinfulness—with these, and with our sins, with these—interwoven with the Father’s love, it so weaves us that our soul is renewed and recovers its true image, the image of Jesus.
In Poland, during a trip dedicated to John Paul II and to the devotion to the Divine Mercy, the pope explained that God's forgiveness helps people pardon and be compassionate toward others.
POPE FRANCIS
Are you able to dream? When a heart is open and prepared to dream, there is also room for mercy. There is also room to be close to those who suffer, those who want peace in their heart or who lack the necessities of life.
Pope Francis says receiving God's forgiveness also means pardoning those who have hurt us, and not fostering resentment.
POPE FRANCIS
God forgets the terrible stories of so many sinners, of our sins. He forgives us and keeps going. He asks only this, “Do the same. Learn to forgive. Do not carry this cross of hatred, rancor, of 'you are going to pay for this.'”
The other face of mercy is charity.
The pope's gestures toward people in need have helped many experience the goodness of God.
