God’s mercy, forgiveness pave the path toward hope, pope writes

God’s forgiveness is the source of hope for the faithful, Pope Francis wrote. “Indeed, with his mercy, God transforms us inwardly, he changes our heart,” he said in a message to priests celebrating the Jubilee of the Missionaries of Mercy in Rome.

“We can always count on him in any situation. God made himself man to reveal to the world that he never abandons us,” the pope’s message said.

The Vatican released the pope’s message to the priests, which was read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation’s section for new evangelisation and the chief organiser of the Holy Year 2025, during a 29 March meeting and training session.

In his message, dated 19 March, the pope thanked the priests because they “bear witness to the paternal face of God, infinitely great in love, who calls everyone to conversion and renews us always with his forgiveness.”

“Conversion and forgiveness are the two gentle touches with which the Lord dries every tear from our eyes; they are the hands with which the church embraces us sinners; they are the feet on which we walk in our earthly pilgrimage,” the pope wrote.

Pope Francis encouraged the priests in their ministry as confessors to be “attentive in listening, ready to welcome and constant in accompanying those who wish to renew their own lives and return to the Lord.”