Francis then pointed to a third, "hidden son" in the parable, describing him as the one who "did not deem equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave."
This "Servant-Son," Jesus, is the extension of God's hand and heart, the Pope said, explaining that he is the one who welcomed the prodigal son, prepared his "banquet of forgiveness" and taught us to be merciful like the father.
Turning to the image of the father in the parable, Pope Francis said that he reveals the heart of God, and shows us "the merciful Father who in Jesus loves us beyond all measure, always waiting for our conversion each time we err."
Just like the father in the parable, God continues to consider us his children even when we are lost, the Pope said, explaining that even the most serious mistakes we make "don't scratch the fidelity of his love."
The Sacrament of Confession, he said, is our opportunity to start again, and is the place where God welcomes us and "restores to us the dignity of his children."
Pope Francis closed his address with an appeal to intensify their path of interior conversion throughout the rest of Lent.
"Let us allow ourselves to be reached by the gaze of our father, full of love, and return to him with our whole heart, rejecting any compromise with sin," he said.
After leading pilgrims in the traditional Marian prayer, Francis gave a shoutout to the new pilot program "Humanitarian Corridors," aimed at helping refugees.
An joint-ecumenical initiative of the Sant'Egidio Community, the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, the Italian government and the Waldensian and Methodist churches, the projects provides aid and safe passage to those fleeing war and violence.
The first 100 out of the 1,000 refugees who will come from camps in Lebanon, Morocco and Ethiopia, have already transferred to Italy. Among them are sick children, disabled persons, elderly and widows of war with children.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.