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Pope Francis’ example of mercy is real, encouraging

Year of Mercy centered around the salvation of souls, forgiveness and healing

Published: December 19, 2015   

By Father Erik Pohlmeier

CNS / L'Osservatore Romano
Pope Francis prays at the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica after opening it to inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican Dec. 8.

Pope Francis can be found regularly in the pages and photos of news reports around the world. On Dec. 8 the images showed him pushing open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. As he stepped through to start the Year of Mercy his invitation was clear and echoes the call of Jesus: “Come, follow me.”

Many commentators have speculated on the appeal of Pope Francis since his election. There is no denying his popularity, and our world has a strange fascination with celebrity, but this Year of Mercy can help explain the deeper reasons he connects with so many. Pope Francis understands the real desire of the human heart. Pope Francis understands the need to love and be loved after the example of Jesus.

In the gospels it is clear that Jesus was a compelling figure. His words of preaching were always in step with his care for the person in front of him, but many still struggled to recognize and accept him. Those who did were nearly always the ones who experienced his mercy, whose lives were changed by a personal encounter with the living God.

Pope Francis resonates with people because of that same authenticity, a simple connection between words and actions. He “walks the talk” to use a modern phrase. The power of this authenticity is that it reaches beyond physical contact. Story after story relates that people are moved just by watching him on TV or being numbered among the thousands at his events. Compare this to other gatherings of crowds. Leaving a concert, for example, a person will likely comment on how they enjoyed the music and the show but feel no closer to the singer. It is not likely they will consider how they live in light of the experience.

Pope Francis started his announcement of the Year of Mercy with these words, “Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy.” This is crucial if we want to understand the pope’s real goals for the year. He is interested in no less than the salvation of souls. Jesus came to save souls, and it started with tapping into that part that really knows God. God is the creator and Father of us all, but sin has the power to turn us away or cloud that relationship. Suffering can harden our hearts and cause us to despair. Jesus led people to believe in him by confronting sin and suffering with mercy. In the form of forgiveness and healing Jesus connected souls back to God. In Jesus they saw something they feared lost and hope was kindled. Those who responded often heard the words, “Your faith has saved you.”

Like Jesus, Pope Francis reminds people that God is with them. The crowds are moved in his presence because he reminds them that hope is possible, even in a broken world. In the face of despair and cynicism he injects mercy and lives are changed. He inspires the faith that saves. Pope Francis seems to have a clear recognition that being pope puts him in a unique position. The world watches and he points to Jesus by the mercy of his actions.

Pope Francis also recognizes our potential. Each of us has the power to practice mercy and connect someone to a deeper faith. When we live our faith with the same authentic simplicity God can act through us and souls are saved.

And so we have the invitation to follow through that door. Our own sin can be reconciled by coming to the Father’s mercy. That experience can change the way we see others and reach out to them. Those who know Jesus have always found him in mercy. In this Year of Mercy it is ours to receive and give.

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