Pope Francis has reflected on the Gospel story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, emphasizing the importance of God’s mercy and forgiveness. In his catechesis, the Pope noted that Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, felt lost and excluded, but Jesus sought him out and offered him mercy and forgiveness.
The Pope highlighted that Jesus’ gaze is not one of reproach, but of mercy, and that God’s forgiveness is free. He encouraged believers to never lose hope, even when feeling marginalized or unable to change, and to cultivate their desire to see Jesus and allow themselves to be found by God’s mercy.
Pope Francis also emphasized that Jesus continues to descend into the “hells of today,” including places of war, pain, and hunger, to seek out those who are lost and offer them mercy and forgiveness.