Cardinal Francis George of Chicago released a statement today on the liberal comments made by Pope Francis in an interview released Thursday.

Cardinal George focused on the Pope's message of God's love and stayed mum on the more political aspects of Francis' words on sexuality and reproductive choice:

In his beautiful reflection published in English in America magazine, Pope Francis begins by identifying himself as a sinner, and so are we all. The first thing a sinner striving for conversion needs to hear is that God loves him or her. Mercy is love eager to forgive.

That has become the leitmotif of Pope Francis’ teaching, and it puts into perspective the demands of discipleship expressed and clarified in the Church’s established doctrinal and moral teaching. For who the Pope is, we should all be grateful. From how he teaches the truths of the Catholic faith, we can all profit.