Pope Francis' new apostolic exhortation is a very personal document. One of the most personal of his pontificate. Its content was revealed by him on the day of its publication.
"As this great saint and doctor of the Church testified, it is confidence in God's merciful love that is the way to the heart of the Lord and his Gospel," Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis has a special devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, but he decided to publish this exhortation on the day of another Therese: the one of Avila. He believes that the Saint of Lisieux is the product of the reform carried out by St. Therese of Avila.
The content of the pope's document is a call to follow the example of Saint Therese and pursue what he calls her “invitation to holy abandonment.” That is, to mature in faith and overcome selfish behavior. The pope says that without confidence there is no love—which is the basis of the document's title: “It is confidence.” He writes that one cannot lead a life of faith based on fear or, worse, on trying to conduct oneself righteously in order to pay a ticket to enter heaven.
The document is brief but concise. Pope Francis reminds that love is generous and unselfish and that any relationship not established along these lines will, in the end, lead away from God.