Stressing the need for conversion, the Pope warned against the temptation toward self-justification: "From what do we need to convert? Are we not all good people, believers, even sufficiently practicing?"
Despite being like the fig tree which fails to produce fruit, Jesus "with limitless patience" delays killing the tree for another year, Pope Francis observed.
He reflected on the Jubilee Year of Mercy as a year of grace, the period in the Church and our lives before Christ's "glorious return," and which is "punctuated by a certain number of Lents which offer us opportunities for repentance and salvation."
The Jubilee of Mercy is an Extraordinary Holy Year which officially commenced December 8 – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica. It will close Nov. 20, 2016 with the Solemnity of Christ the King.
After the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis reflected on the ongoing crisis of refugees fleeing from "war and other inhumane situations."
He especially acknowledged Greece and other countries "on the front line" for their work in offering "generous assistance" to those crossing their borders, and called on the international community for a "unanimous response" in helping distribute the weight of the crisis.
"For this reason, we need to firmly and unreservedly focus on negotiations," he said.
The pontiff went on to welcome "with hope" the current ceasefire in Syria involving government and rebel forces, which has entered its second day.
"I invite all to pray so that this window of opportunity can give relief to the suffering people, encouraging the necessary humanitarian aid, and open the way to dialogue and much desired peace," he said.
Pope Francis went on to extend his "closeness" to the people of Fiji, where tropical cyclone Winston killed more than 40 people and left tens of thousands more homeless.
"I pray for the victims and for those engaged with the relief efforts."