Pope Francis (1936-2025); brother of the poor, humble and inspiring.

His Papacy in quotes...

The Church

Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor. They have much to teach us. Not only do they share in the sensus fidei, but in their difficulties they know the suffering Christ. We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them….

March 2013

The Gospel

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.

November 2013

On living for others

Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is.... Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.

On peace

Disarming hearts is a job for everyone, great and small, rich and poor alike. At times, something quite simple will do, such as “a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed”. With such gestures, we progress towards the goal of peace. We will arrive all the more quickly if, in the course of journeying alongside our brothers and sisters, we discover that we have changed from the time we first set out. Peace does not only come with the end of wars but with the dawn of a new world, a world in which we realize that we are different, closer and more fraternal than we ever thought possible.

World Day of Peace, 1 Jan 2025

On war

Let the attacks and weapons cease, please, because it must be understood that terrorism and war bring no solutions, but only to the death and suffering of many innocent lives. War is a defeat, every war is a defeat.

8th October 2023

Acts of destruction are never impersonal, abstract or merely material. They always have a face, a concrete story, names.

Care of the poor

In this context, we can understand Jesus' command to his disciples: "You yourselves give them something to eat!" (Mk 6:37): it means working to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and to promote the integral development of the poor, as well as small daily acts of solidarity in meeting the real needs which we encounter.

On hunger

In all places and circumstances, Christians, with the help of their pastors, are called to hear the cry of the poor…. Seeing their poverty, hearing their cries and knowing their sufferings, we are scandalized because we know that there is enough food for everyone and that hunger is the result of a poor distribution of goods and income.

On the elderly

We are called to include not abandon the elderly ...

To prepare well, it’s good to look towards your roots. Try to spend time with the elderly. [...] Talk a little with your grandparents. They’ll give you wisdom.

Young people

Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive! He is in you, he is with you and he never abandons you. However far you may wander, he is always there, the Risen One. He calls you and he waits for you to return to him and start over again. When you feel you are growing old out of sorrow, resentment or fear, doubt or failure, he will always be there to restore your strength and your hope.

Christus Vivit, 25 March 2019

Increasingly, those who have their whole life ahead of them are unable to approach it with optimism and confidence. It is precisely young people, who are the signs of hope in every society, who struggle to find hope in themselves. This is sad and troubling.  Indeed, “it is sad to see young people who are without hope, who face an uncertain and unpromising future, who lack employment or job security, or realistic prospects after finishing school. Without the hope that their dreams can come true, they will inevitably grow discouraged and listless (Bull Spes Non Confundit,)

3 February 2025

Dear young people, do not be afraid of making decisive choices in life. Have faith; the Lord will not abandon you!

On children

We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected.

Sisters and brothers, how important it is to listen, for we need to realize that young children understand, remember and speak to us. And with their looks and their silences, too, they speak to us. So let us listen to them!

On prisoners

It's right that those who have made a mistake pay for their mistake, but it's even more right that those who have done wrong should be able to redeem oneself from their mistake. There can't be sentences without windows of hope.

On refugees

It's hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help.

Vatican, October 2016

On inequality

How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion. Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality.

The laity

The lay faithful are not ‘guests’ in the Church, they are at home, so they are called to take care of their own home. The laity, and especially women, need to be more valued in their human and spiritual skills and gifts for the life of parishes and dioceses.

The sick

The sickbed can become a ‘holy place’ of salvation and redemption, both for the sick and for those who care for them.

I have much in common with you at this time of my life, dear brothers and sisters who are sick: the experience of illness, of weakness, of having to depend on others in so many things, and of needing their support.

This is not always easy, but it is a school in which we learn each day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without being demanding or pushing back, without regrets and without despair, but rather with gratitude to God and to our brothers and sisters for the kindness we receive, looking toward the future with acceptance and trust.

On science

The 'Big Bang' that today is considered to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the creative intervention of God, on the contrary it requires it. Evolution in nature is not in contrast with the notion of (divine) creation because evolution requires the creation of the beings that evolve.

October 2014

On climate change

We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.

The climate crisis is not exactly a matter that interests the great economic powers, whose concern is the greatest profit possible at minimal cost, and in the shortest amount of time.

The environment

A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged.

United Nations, Sept 2015

The destruction of the environment is an offence against God, greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable, and threatens to unleash a conflict between generations.

On unemployment

We do not get dignity from power, or money or culture. We get dignity from work.

There is no worse material poverty, I am keen to stress, than the poverty which prevents people from earning their bread and deprives them of the dignity of work.

The family

Let us pray to the Lord and ask him to protect the family in the crisis with which the devil wants to destroy it. Families are the domestic church where Jesus grows in the love of a married couple, in the lives of their children.

Economy & capitalism

It is increasingly intolerable that financial markets are shaping the destiny of people rather than serving their needs, or that the few derive immense wealth from financial speculation while the many are deeply burdened by the consequences.

Vatican, June 2014

On the saints

The saints are not "supermen" who are "born perfect," but rather are ordinary people who followed God "with all their heart.

They spent their lives in the service of others, they endured suffering and adversity without hatred and responded to evil with good, spreading joy and peace.

To be a saint is not a privilege of a few... all of us in baptism have the inheritance of being able to become saints. Sanctity is a vocation for everyone.

Going to the Kingdom of God

“When will my Lord come? When will I be able to go there”? A little bit of fear, because I don’t know what this step means, and passing through that door causes a little fear. But there is always the hand of the Lord that carries us forward, and beyond the door there is the party.

On creation

A Christian who does not protect creation, who does not let it grow, is a Christian who does not care about the work of God.

On baptism

Baptism..... the root of the common priesthood of all the faithful which is in turn expressed in the ministries.

The Holy Eucharist

The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.

Human rights

Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures.

On religious life

Religious people should go against the cultural tides. We must go out through the door to seek and meet the people.

The poor

We have to state, without mincing words, that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them.

Economic policies

The dignity of each human person and the pursuit of the common good are concerns which ought to shape all economic policies.

On women's rights

I have noticed that every time a woman is given a position (of responsibility) in the Vatican, things improve.

November 2022

On joy

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.

On prayer

Prayer is nothing more than lifting our hearts or minds to God.

Prayer: a sacred fire that burns in our hearts.

On hope

We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love.

On faith

Its is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith, not only with our words, but with our actions.

Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night.

Love is the measure of faith.

On humility

The world tells us to seek success, power, and money; God tells us to seek humility, service, and love.

A humble soul does not trust itself, but places all its confidence in God.

On grace

Grace is not part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls, not knowledge nor reason.

On mercy

Jesus is the face of the Father's mercy

God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking His mercy.

A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.

Mercy is the greatest of all the virtues

The Resurrection

Easter is the event that brought radical news for every human being, for history and for the world: the triumph of life over death; it is the feast of reawakening and of rebirth. Let us allow our lives to be conquered and transformed by the Resurrection!

Lord, we give thanks and praise for the life of Pope Francis.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in peace.

Amen.