Mercy

The Latest

St. John Paul II (1920-2005).

16 insights from St. John Paul II on divine mercy

Apr 7, 2024

By Joseph Pronechen

Pope John Paul II made teaching and spreading Divine Mercy a keystone of his pontificate. Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his Angelus address on Sept. 17, 2023.

Pope Francis: Forgiveness is the cure that heals ‘the poisons of resentment’

Sep 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his Angelus, the pope said forgiving is “not a good deed that we can choose to do or not... Read more

Pope Francis gives his Angelus message for the Third Sunday of Advent on Dec. 11, 2022.

Pope Francis: Be surprised by God’s mercy this Advent

Dec 11, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Third Sunday of Advent, which marks roughly halfway through the season preceding Christmas, is also known as Gaudete Sunday. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at the Angelus address on Sept. 11, 2022.

Pope Francis: Reach out to a friend who needs to hear that God loves them

Sep 11, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has urged Catholics to imitate the Lord’s dedicated search “for the lost sheep.” Read more

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door in L'Aquila, Italy on Aug. 28, 2022.

Pope Francis becomes first pope in more than 700 years to open the Holy Door in L’Aquila

Aug 28, 2022

By Courtney Mares

During a trip to the Italian city of L’Aquila, Pope Francis participated in a centuries-old tradition established by Pope Celestine... Read more

Pope Francis greets Father John Paul Mary Zeller during a meeting with Missionaries of Mercy at the Vatican on April 25, 2022.

The Missionaries of Mercy are growing — and their ministry is changing lives

Jun 1, 2022

By Luke Coppen

Pope Francis established the Missionaries of Mercy in 2015. Read more

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Oct. 24, 2021.

Pope Francis appeals that migrants not be sent back to unsafe countries

Oct 24, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called on the international community to stop deporting migrants to unsafe countries. Read more

Pope Francis hears confessions at St. John Lateran in Rome March 2, 2017.

Pope Francis: Going to confession is 'abandoning oneself to Love'

Mar 12, 2021

Pope Francis said Friday that going to confession is an act of “abandoning oneself to Love,” allowing the God of... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on March 30, 2020.

Pope Francis: Trust in the mercy and justice of God

Mar 30, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Monday that the Church can trust in the mercy and justice of God.  Read more

Pope Francis gives his apostolic blessing at the end of the general audience March 18, 2020.

Everyone is in debt to God's mercy, Pope Francis says

Mar 18, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Showing and receiving God’s mercy are central aspects of Christian life – and everyone is in debt to God for... Read more

Pope Francis hears confessions at St. John Lateran in Rome March 2, 2017.

Pope Francis: God forgets our sins after confession

Sep 15, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Sunday that God forgets sins absolved within the confessional.  Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square March 20, 2019.

Pope Francis tells Catholics not to abuse God's mercy

Mar 24, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

The mercy of God is not an invitation to “spiritual laziness,” but requires a sincere and prompt response from those... Read more

Pope Francis, Nov. 14, 2018.

Pope Francis: God alone can heal the wounds of sin

Nov 21, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

People need the mercy of God and the healing of the Holy Spirit to root out the sin in their... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to participants from the Economy of Communion in Vatican City, Feb. 6, 2017.

Pope Francis: We experience God's mercy before we share it

Apr 10, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Speaking to nearly 600 Missionaries of Mercy on Tuesday, Pope Francis said that to be “collaborators of mercy” with the... Read more

Pope Francis leads a Penitential Celebration in St. Peter's Basilica on March 9, 2018.

Pope Francis: We abandon God through sin, but he never abandons us

Mar 9, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

At his annual Lenten penitential service on Friday, Pope Francis said that it is not God who abandons us when... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates a private Mass with Vatican maintenance staff on July 7, 2017.

Pope to maintenance staff: We are all sinners, but Jesus heals us

Jul 8, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday Pope Francis said that just like the biblical tax collectors, despite our sinfulness, Jesus seeks us out to... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, March 16, 2016.

Pope Francis makes surprise 'Year of Mercy'-style visit

Mar 31, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

Although the Jubilee Year of Mercy has officially ended, Pope Francis today made a surprise “Mercy Friday” visit to a... Read more

Officer Steven McDonald.

New York police officer remembered for his example of mercy

Jan 17, 2017

Thousands gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Friday to commemorate and mourn the loss of Officer... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims during his Nov. 30, 2016, general audience in the Paul VI Hall.

We have to pray for both the living and the dead, Pope Francis says

Nov 30, 2016

By Elise Harris

In his last set of catechesis on mercy, Pope Francis focused on the works of praying for the living and... Read more

Nigerian Catholics reflect on mercy: God never fails to forgive

Nov 29, 2016

As the Catholic Church’s Year of Mercy came to a close, a gathering of Nigerians took the time to reflect... Read more