A Missionary of Mercy: Pope Francis

For Francis, mercy – which was at the heart of everything the late Pope said and did, is not a noun, but an action word.   

“In God’s mercy do we find our true freedom and joy. We live by mercy. We cannot imagine a life without mercy. Mercy is the air we breathe. Mercy cannot be fenced in. We must forgive because we ourselves are in need of forgiveness.”

A single word that can define the life and mission of Pope Francis is “mercy.” Through his words, actions, and journeys, he emphasized being close to the wounded, forgiving the penitent, and giving voice to those who suffer. For Francis, mercy is not just an emotion—it is the act of bringing the compassionate Christ to a broken world.

“Chosen Through Mercy”

The papal motto of Pope Francis is “Miserando atque eligendo” (having mercy and choosing), inspired by the call of Saint Matthew the Evangelist and Apostle, reflecting the thoughts of Saint Bede. This motto expresses that those who have received the Lord’s mercy must, in turn, show it to others. “The Lord never tires of showing us mercy. We are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy,” says the Pope (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013, #3).

The Jubilee Year of Mercy and Missionaries of Mercy

Announcing the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy (2015–2016), Pope Francis, in the bull Misericordiae Vultus (The Face of Mercy, 2015), proclaimed, “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” He ordered that Holy Doors be opened in all cathedral churches around the world, inviting everyone to experience God’s mercy.

He also appointed nearly 800 Missionaries of Mercy and sent them across the globe as signs of God's mercy. He granted them the special faculties to forgive certain sins usually reserved to the Holy See and instructed them to preach about mercy and invite all to experience divine mercy through the sacrament of reconciliation.

Mercy in the Pope’s Writings and Ministry

Mercy is both the central theme and form of Pope Francis' writings and teachings. In Evangelii Gaudium (2013), he urged the Church to be “bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets” (EG #49). In the encyclical Fratelli Tutti (2020), grounded in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), he emphasized universal brotherhood and proclaimed that mercy alone can lead to peace. For Pope Francis, mercy is the essence and foundation of the Gospel.

The encyclical C'est la tendresse (C'e tenerezza, 2024), meaning “He looked on us with love,” directs our gaze to the overflowing mercy in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Mercy That Bears the Fruit of Justice: Protection for the Vulnerable

Pope Francis affirms that mercy and justice go hand in hand. When he preaches mercy for the oppressed, he also boldly insists that oppressors must be held accountable with justice. He is firm that all offenses against the dignity and worth of migrants, the poor, victims of war and trafficking, children, and the elderly must be punished justly. He established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and brought canonical reforms through the motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi (“You Are the Light of the World,” 2019, revised in 2023), ensuring penalties for crimes against minors. While mercy belongs to all, Pope Francis also upholds that it must not be a means for criminals to escape justice.

World Day of the Poor

In 2017, Pope Francis instituted the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as the World Day of the Poor, declaring that “only through mercy can a just society flourish.” He clarified that mercy shown to the poor and migrants is not merely charity, but justice. His prayer at the Lampedusa coast in 2013 and his meeting with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in 2017 bear testimony to this conviction. “The tears of the poor must become our own tears,” he said.

Compassion That Heals a Wounded World

Frequently stating that a “Third World War is being fought in parts,” In vehemently condemning the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Sudan, the voice of Pope Francis was not that of a religious leader, buy that of the conscience of humanity. He condemned the arms trade and spoke for the victims—especially women and children. His compassion was not one of helplessness, but of prophetic action.

Let Mercy Be Our Life!

The best tribute we can offer to Pope Francis is to listen to and live out his call to mercy. His invitation is to practice a little more mercy within our families, workplaces, and social relationships. It is not our grand cathedrals or massive institutions, but the small acts of kindness to the poor that testify to our acceptance and proclamation of Christ. The Pope, who walked among us as a Missionary of Mercy, now sends each of us out as missionaries of mercy!

(Fr Yesu Karunanidhi, who holds a doctorate in Biblical Studies, is a priest of the archdiocese of Madurai, South India)