Does a soul that dies in mortal sin go straight to hell, or does God offer mercy one last time?
The short answer
God's mercy depends on whether a person wants it. The Church has always taught that whoever repents, even in the last moments of life, receives God's mercy and is forgiven.
Divine mercy is given to those who want it. The Church has always taught that if a person repents even in the final moments of life, he or she will receive God's mercy and be forgiven.