Misericordia Dei (Mercy of God) is the title of anapostolic letter byPope John Paul II to foster and reemphasize the importance of theSacrament of Reconciliation. The letter is subtitled "On Certain Aspects of the Sacrament of Penance" and was promulgated on 7 April 2002 inRome, issued asMotu proprio and was signed by him.^[1][2]

The letter begins by quoting theGospel of Matthew1:21 thatJesus was born to "save his people from their sins" and emphasizes the fervent and energetic summons with whichJohn the Baptist called for repentance. Quoting theEpistle to the Romans8:21, it states that "Salvation is therefore and above all redemption from sin, which hinders friendship with God."

The letter emphasizes that Jesus himself granted the Apostles, through the power of theHoly Spirit, the authority to reconcile repentant sinners with God and the Church and quotes theGospel of John20:22–23: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”.

The letter states that theSacrament of Reconciliation entails not only the action of the minister – only a Bishop or priest, who judges and absolves, tends and heals in the name of Christ – but also the actions of the penitent: contrition, confession and satisfaction. The letter emphasizes the need for penitents to "name their own sins", except when this is not possible.

As in the year 2000 letterNovo Millennio Ineunte John Paul II again asked the clergy for "renewed pastoral courage in ensuring that the day-to-day teaching of Christian communities persuasively and effectively presents the practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation".

• Reconciliatio et paenitentia

• Vatican websiteMisericordia Dei

• Catholic spirituality
• Documents of Pope John Paul II
• 2002 documents
• 2002 in Christianity

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata