This February 10th marks the tenth anniversary of the creation and commissioning of the Missionaries of Mercy by Pope Francis. The Holy Father appointed these priests with two main missions: to preach mercy and, above all, to administer the sacrament of mercy, confession. On that February 10th, 2016, His Holiness created approximately one thousand confessors, priests specifically dedicated to hearing confessions—the Missionaries of Mercy.

Thus, the Supreme Pontiff, visible head of the entire Church, from the center of the Catholic world, sent confessors to every corner of the earth. This image clearly proclaims that the forgiveness of the adorable Redeemer must reach every place in the world.

The 2019 Yearbook of the Missionaries of Mercy provides the following statistics, as of the time of its publication. The 911 Missionaries of Mercy are present on every continent. There are 519 in Europe, 223 in the Americas, 97 in Asia, 65 in Africa, and 7 in Oceania. They are located in 84 countries worldwide: 25 in Europe, 21 in Africa, 21 in the Americas, 15 in Asia, and 2 in Oceania. They are, for example, in Spain, France, Italy, Vatican City, Germany, Poland, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, India, China, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mali, Australia, and others. They are present in 482 dioceses around the world. The data in this yearbook highlights an important fact: the universality of this mission.

It is also worth noting that one of the prerogatives of the Missionaries of Mercy was the power to directly forgive sins whose absolution is reserved to the Holy See. This was intended to bring forgiveness closer to these sinners and make it easier for them to receive it.

It is interesting to recall the moments of the first world meeting that we, the Missionaries of Mercy, had with the Roman Pontiff in order to delve deeper into what it meant.

It was in Rome, on February 9th and 10th of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Pope presented us with a purple stole for confession. Embroidered with the Jubilee Year logo, it symbolized the burden of charity in carrying penitents on our shoulders, and bore the inscription “Misericordes sicut Pater,” merciful as the Father. Everything began where it should: with solemn adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and by having the new Missionaries of Mercy go to confession. In this way, everything began with the good Jesus, divine Savior, God-Man, and we preached by example. For a good confessor must first be a good penitent. The pilgrimage to the Holy Door followed, a further purification of the heart through the Jubilee indulgence, which granted forgiveness of guilt and punishment. During this procession, the Jubilee prayer was recited, emphasizing that Christ is the merciful face of the Father. In his address to the Missionaries of Mercy in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the Pope said, among other things: “Be merciful confessors in imitation of the heart of Christ; have the heart of a father and a mother; take as your models two great confessors, Padre Pio and Saint Leopold Mandic.” This was followed by a personal greeting to the Vicar of Christ, who showed great warmth. On the 10th, the first day of Lent, the 750 Missionaries of Mercy present concelebrated Holy Mass with the Pope. The celebration was broadcast internationally. In his homily, the successor of Peter stressed our need for God’s forgiveness and mercy. “Pope Francis […] established the Missionary of Mercy.” The Pope personally established the Missionaries of Mercy. He personally implored the Holy Spirit upon them and sent them forth. It was also very significant that the entire ceremony was accompanied by urns containing the remains of Padre Pio and Saint Leopold Mandic, two saints who spent countless hours in confessionals. Following Holy Mass, we all venerated the remains of these two great saints. In short, the Pope was deeply committed to his project of creating and sending the Missionaries of Mercy, so that they might forgive, and do so mercifully.

Currently, missionaries of mercy still exist throughout the world, although after the year of mercy not all the faithful remain aware of the permanence of this reality that so inspired the Pope.

Pope Francis’ message, and his gesture, are very clear: the need for the faithful to approach the sacrament of mercy, and the great importance of receiving them with a merciful heart. Now that Lent is approaching, this message is even more relevant.