Mercy, yes....

But also his insistence on adherence to Church teachings. The two are not mutually exclusive.  I believe he said reintegration with the Faith is what the goal is.  In that respect, mercy, pastoral guidance and accompaniment is essential.  But he has changed no rule, changed no teaching.  

I think the more people and pundits of the more "liberal" mindset set others up to believe there is change coming in teaching, the more they are being set up to be disappointed.