Pope Francis and the Language of Mercy

Arokiam John OFM


My time in Rome (2013-2021) as a student at the Pontifical University Antonianums was marked by countless pilgrimages to St. Peter’s Square. Despite the long lines, security checks, and logistical hurdles, I eagerly seized every opportunity to attend papal audiences, canonizations, and liturgies during Easter, Christmas, and other solemn occasions.

These moments were not merely routine; they became lifelines of spiritual renewal. Standing among pilgrims from every corner of the world, I felt a profound connection to the universal Church—a connection embodied most vividly in Pope Francis. His presence radiated hope, even during Italy’s darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he celebrated Mass in an empty square, his words streaming into our isolated homes like a balm for weary souls. Through joy and despair, he stood as a shepherd who refused to let his flock walk alone.

The Synod on the Family—A Light in Complexity: In 2015, Pope Francis’s address at the Synod on the Family crystallized why he resonates so deeply with my Christian journey. The synod, he emphasized, was not a tribunal to “solve” every challenge facing families, nor a battleground for ideological disputes. Instead, it was an invitation to view struggles—broken relationships, societal pressures, moral confusion—through the lens of the Gospel and the Church’s living tradition. Here, three aspects of his leadership illuminated my faith:

Seeing with God’s Eyes: Francis urged the Church to confront realities without fear or evasion. Rather than burying our heads in the sand or wielding doctrine like a weapon, he called for a gaze of compassion. Families, he acknowledged, are often “wounded,” navigating crises of identity, economic instability, and loneliness. His vision was not to condemn but to “kindle the flame of faith” by meeting people where they are. This mirrored Christ’s own ministry: a light that illuminates darkness without scorching the fragile.

Mercy Over Stones: The Pope’s critique of “closed hearts” hiding behind the “chair of Moses” struck a chord. He challenged a mindset of superiority that reduces faith to rigid legalism, instead urging pastors to walk with people, not above them. His language shifted from archaic rigidity to the warmth of mercy—a reminder that the Gospel is not a museum artifact but a living fountain. By refusing to “demonize” or relativize, he embodied the delicate balance of truth and tenderness, upholding doctrine while letting its spirit breathe.

The Church as Field Hospital: Francis’s papacy has been a clarion call to prioritize healing over condemnation. He reoriented the Church’s mission toward proclaiming God’s mercy, echoing Jesus’s mandate to “bind up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1). This was no innovation but a return to the heart of the Gospel. His focus on “suffering people” rather than abstract ideas made faith tangible. During the pandemic, this pastoral urgency became visceral: his solitary prayers in the rain-soaked square reminded us that even in emptiness, God’s presence endures.

A Humility That Transforms: When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto the loggia in 2013 as Pope Francis, his first act was to bow and ask the crowds, “Pray for me.” This humility—rooted in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi—has defined his pontificate. He leads not as a prince but as a servant, recognizing that true authority flows from surrender to God’s grace.

Years after leaving Rome, I carry his legacy with me: a Church that meets the world not with anathemas but with open arms, that speaks the language of love in a dialect all can understand. In Pope Francis, I see a shepherd who reminds us that the road to heaven is paved not with perfect answers, but with imperfect hearts seeking the Father’s mercy. And for that, I will always pray for him—as he so often asked us to do. naveenofm@gmail.com

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