Pope Leo Delivers Message of Hope for the Downcast, Weary, and Suffering

(photo: Pope Leo XIV, Edgar Beltran, 2025) Forgiveness offers both the forgiver and forgiven a relief from the painful and burdensome negative emotions that are experienced when forgiveness has not happened. Particularly when someone has experienced moral distress and moral injury in a hurtful event, we know that these events are commonly followed by: guilt … Continue reading Pope Leo Delivers Message of Hope for the Downcast, Weary, and Suffering

Forgiveness: Receiving and Giving God’s Grace

(photo: Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) "Frost and cold, bless the Lord!" (Daniel 3:69) Yesterday morning we woke up to our first frost of this autumn here in on the oak savanna in Central Minnesota. The pastures were white and silver that tuned to a brilliant gold as the rising sun cast it's first … Continue reading Forgiveness: Receiving and Giving God’s Grace

Pope Leo Explains the Resurrection as Cause and Model for Forgiveness

(photo: Edgar Beltran, 2025) Pope Leo XIV had important things to say about forgiveness in his General Audience on Wednesday of this week. His remarks linked forgiveness to the example of Jesus Christ when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection (John 20:19-31), and how Jesus appears without anger or desire for revenge, but … Continue reading Pope Leo Explains the Resurrection as Cause and Model for Forgiveness

Divine Forgiveness: From Faith to Science and Back Again

(photo: Vatican Media, September 24, 2025) Pope Leo XIV addressed the topic of divine redemption today in his general audience. Divine redemption is an important concept and principle linked to divine forgiveness - i.e. forgiveness of our transgressions by God. Divine forgiveness is an important topic within forgiveness research because many people in general are … Continue reading Divine Forgiveness: From Faith to Science and Back Again

Co-Reflection Transforms Reconciliation

(photo by Harli Marten, 2016) A new study by Australian researchers suggests that transgressions between couples may actually strengthen their relationship when the reconciliation process includes co-reflection. This growth is termed Post-Transgression Relationship Growth or "PTRG" for short. In co-reflection, relationship partners relationship partners working through the incident together (Thai et al., 2023). The researchers … Continue reading Co-Reflection Transforms Reconciliation