Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the Missionaries of Mercy conveyed them that they are providing a much-needed service to the Church. The Missionaries of Mercy are meeting in Rome for a few days of prayer and reflection organized by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. His Holiness also warned them that the Christian path is an arduous one, “with stones upon which to stumble and banana peels on which to slip”.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “The message that we bear in Christ’s name is that of making peace with God. God needs people to bring the message of his pardon and mercy to the world. This is the mission that Jesus entrusted to his apostles the evening of his resurrection. The lives of those who fulfill such a mission must be in harmony with it.” His Holiness Pope Francis told the priests to encourage penitents and give them hope, letting them know they don’t need to be embarrassed if they need to return to Confession.
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his remarks by exhorting the missionaries that “Living in communion with the Source of Life, Missionaries of Mercy are called to be interpreters of and to bear testimony to this experience: that everyone is always welcome without distinction into the community that sustains those who find themselves in a moment of need or difficulty.”
