The Face of Mercy: Misericordiae Vultus

The Face of Mercy: Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (Misericordiae Vultus), was issued by Pope Francis outlining his intentions and hopes for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy which will begin December 8th, 2015.Pope Francis, beloved for his down-to-earth understanding of pastoral life, recommends that this Holy Year become a time for each person to grow rich in "living out in our daily lives the mercy" which God "constantly extends to all of us." Always the pastor of souls, he reminds us that mercy makes demands of us and offers suggestions so that everyone, lay and ordained, may give concrete expression to mercy in words and deeds. In this way we may all become "merciful like the Father," the motto of this extraordinary Holy Year.To deepen our understanding of mercy, the document develops three main themes. First, the theological understanding of mercy is accessibly explained, along with its foundational role in the lives of individuals and in the pastoral min