Mercy Archives

Princess Diana’s mercy restored the royals
- Commentary
- September 2, 2017
A sovereign can exercise their role, as the Queen and Prince Philip have traditionally done, in the Victorian manner: Stiffly and courteously, with good grace but shyly, shunning intimacy, putting the institution first. Or they can exercise them as Diana did, putting the institution at the service of the poor.
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Pope Francis: Jesus embraces “the outcast, the untouchables”
- Vatican
- August 9, 2017
“I believe that many Catholics believe themselves to be perfect and despise others. This is sad,” the pope said in an off-the-cuff remark during his weekly general audience. “We who are used to experiencing the forgiveness of sins, perhaps a little too ‘cheaply’, should sometimes remember how much we cost the love of God.”
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At his jubilee’s end, why Padre Pio may be a perfect Francis-era saint
- Analysis
- July 28, 2017
Friday marks the end of a special jubilee year devoted to Padre Pio, which began last July 28 on the 100th anniversary of his arrival in San Giovanni Rotondo. Despite some surface incongruities, Padre Pio may be a perfect Pope Francis-era saint in the way he incarnates popular religion, concern for the poor and the primacy of mercy — showing that being a “Francis priest” isn’t about politics but pastoring.
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Mercy opens the door to understanding the mystery of God, pope says

“Mercy, in short, commits us all to being instruments of justice, of reconciliation and peace. Let us never forget that mercy is the keystone in the life of faith, and the concrete form by which we give visibility to Jesus’ resurrection,” Pope Francis said.

On the priesthood, Pope Francis says the devil is in the details

Pope Francis often appears to see himself as the “world’s parish priest,” and during the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday he passed along some pastoral “best practices” to his fellow Catholic priests around the world — including brief homilies, regular days and hours for meeting ordinary folks, and a strong devotion to the Madonna, all adding up to a priesthood expressed in “particulars.”