How Pope Francis Lived Divine Mercy and What We Can Learn

If you get a random person to describe a medieval pope, people might use words like:

- Corrupt

- Uncaring

- Rich

Whilst many of these labels are based upon stereotypes, Pope Francis helped add a new word to the list.

Mercy.

Mercy and compassion are two virtues that no one can separate from the life of Pope Francis.

 

Seeming that today is Divine Mercy Sunday and yesterday was the Pope’s funeral, there is no better time to reflect on his ministry of love.

From the very beginning of his pontificate, he wanted it to be about compassion and love. Instead of joining at the end of the long list of papal names, he chose a new one. He chose a name that reflected who he wanted to become.

Francis.

At that historic moment, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio began his ministry following St Francis of Assisi. Known for his care of the environment, radical poverty, peace-making, and love for marginalized - this is exactly what Pope Francis wanted to live out.

In 2013, Pope Francis met with recovering drug addicts in Rio De Janeiro. He didn’t scorn them for having an addiction, instead - he offered them a message of hope and compassion. 

And it wasn’t just there. He washed the feet of HIV patients, met with prisoners, listened to the youth.

Just like a loving father, he shared the love of the Divine Father throughout the world, no matter how sinful they were.

As a Pope in modern times, the pope in his encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’ warned about creating a throw-away culture of human life, especially for the elderly and unwanted! Pope Francis recognised that it didn’t matter whether people wanted these lives, but whether God did. 

He has been a great instrument to show the world that no matter who you are, or the sins you’ve committed...

Christ still loves you.

 

On Divine Mercy Sunday, the week after Easter, the Pope proclaimed Christ’s love for us even when we stop loving him. 

The apostles had abandoned Christ in his agony. 

Peter had denied Christ … three times!

But when he resurrected, he did not abandon or scourge them. Despite that, Christ appears to them and offers them the joy and peace that only he could give.

He notes how Christ’s gaze was “brimmed not with severity but with mercy.”

 

His Final Sufferings

It isn’t uncommon for a saint to suffer many things.

St Faustina Kowalska, the originator of Divine Mercy Sunday, had great suffering. She struggled with spiritual torments, terminal illness, humiliation, and the stigmata. 

But despite all of that, she offered her suffering to God.

She would suffer to the point of exhaustion, then nuns would slander her and deepen her pain. Even then, she offered her suffering for the conversion of sinners - including those very nuns!

 

Pope Francis, a lover of Divine mercy, did the same thing. 

It might be hard to recognise after his passing, but Pope Francis was despised by many. Amongst Protestants and atheists, he was bashed as the ‘Antichrist’ and an ‘evil old man’. Even amongst Catholics, there was an enormous amount of criticism directed towards him, and sometimes without love.

The Pope wasn’t clueless about this.

When asked “How are you?” the Pope replied, “I’m still alive… even though some people wanted me dead.”

 

Nevertheless, as his health issues worsened, making himself difficult to walk - he offered all his suffering up to the Church for unity and brotherhood. 

He offered up his suffering for the benefit of all people, even those who tried to tear him down.

The Pope knew he wasn’t going to last forever. And he chose the last moments of his life for the world - a world which at times, rejected him.

Even after his death, this Pope of mercy has chosen to be buried between two confessionals.

 

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday and will be the first time in history this feast is celebrated without a Pope.

Pope Francis has spent his life guiding us towards something  - to share in the merciful love of the Father.

Personally, I have found the Diary of St Faustina as a beautiful tool to understand the mercy of God and help me be merciful to others. This is the diary that started this feast day which Pope Francis (and his predecessors) valued so much.

 

In a time like this, there is nothing more fitting to read.

 

You can get a copy of it here. 

(We’ve helped you out and given you a 10% discount with code: VIRTUE)

 

Have a Happy and Holy Divine Mercy Sunday,

God Bless,

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