Missionary of Mercy: called to be icons of Church's embrace

(Vatican Radio) Fr. John Paul Mary of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word is just one of the many hundreds of priests commissioned on Ash Wednesday evening as a Missionary of Mercy. He spoke with Ann Schneible for Vatican Radio about the significance of his new mission for himself and in the life of the Church and the world.

“Every priest, per se, is a missionary of mercy,” said Fr. Mary, “but I think [Pope Francis] wanted to call a specific group of priests – I think – really to emphasize to other priests that we are all missionaries of mercy.” Fr. Mary went on to say, “I think [Pope Francis] is using this as an opportunity to evangelize priests.”  

Click below to hear Fr. John Paul Mary’s extended conversation with Ann Schneible