Mercy: Unconditional Act of Love

At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis released the apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera. In this missive, Francis reflects on the need for the Church to reflect the very heart of the Trinity: mercy. This entire celebration of the life, mission, and expression of the Church's mercy is not limited to just one year. Rather, this is to be the perennial disposition of the Church and of all Christians.

Pope Francis beautifully weaves together Old and New Testament passages which point to God's abundant mercy. The pope sees the story of the woman caught in adultery from the Gospel of John as the ultimate icon of mercy. She does not experience the condemnation of God, but the overwhelming joy of the Lord's forgiveness and mercy.

Merciful Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery

Among other things in this document, Pope Francis also extended the authority of all priests throughout the world to forgive the sin of procuring an abortion. The pope has also called for churches to celebrate and study the Scriptures in an intentional way at least one Sunday each year. These Scripture passages ought to focus on God's mercy. Similarly, Francis has called for the last Sunday in Ordinary Time (Solemnity of Christ the King) to also be celebrated as World Day of the Poor. In all things, the Church is to live in solidarity with those most in need of God's mercy.

In this current pope, we find one who has been deeply and personally touched by the gift of mercy. How else could Francis have written the following in Misericordia et Misera:

"Nothing of what a repentant sinner places before God's mercy can be excluded from the embrace of his forgiveness. For this reason, none of us has the right to make forgiveness conditional. Mercy is always a gratuitous act of our heavenly Father, an unconditional and unmerited act of love. Consequently, we cannot risk opposing the full freedom of the love with which God enters into the life of every person" (#2).