Pope Francis Quotes

Finally an evangelizing community is filled with joy; it knows how to rejoice always. ~ Pope Francis

A simple lifestyle is good for us, helping us to better share with those in need. ~ Pope Francis

Indifference is dangerous, whether innocent or not. ~ Pope Francis

Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace. ~ Pope Francis

I then greet and cordially thank you all, dear friends belonging to other religious traditions; first of all the Muslims, who worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer, and all of you. I really appreciate your presence: in it I see a tangible sign of the will to grow in mutual esteem and cooperation for the common good of humanity. ~ Pope Francis

Religious life ought to promote growth in the Church by way of attraction. The Church must be attractive. Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living! It is possible to live differently in this world. ~ Pope Francis

Open your hearts to the Lord. The Lord is waiting for you and the Church will welcome you if your willingness to serve good is as clear and public as your choice to serve evil was. ~ Pope Francis

Yes, hypothetically, western Catholicism could revise the theme of celibacy ... But for the moment, I am in favor of maintaining celibacy, with the pros and the cons it has, because we have ten centuries of more good experiences than bad ones. ~ Pope Francis

When I have a problem, I write it down and ask St Joseph to sleep on it ~ Pope Francis

It is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good. ~ Pope Francis

The Lord is always there waiting to give us his love: it is an amazing thing, one which never ceases to surprise us! ~ Pope Francis

The thing the Church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful. ~ Pope Francis

Sin, also for those who don't have faith, exists when one goes against one's conscience. To listen to and obey it means, in fact, to decide in face of what is perceived as good or evil. And on this decision pivots the goodness or malice of our action. ~ Pope Francis

Christians must respond to evil with good, taking the cross upon themselves as Jesus did ~ Pope Francis

The Church's roots are in the teaching of the apostles, the authentic witnesses of Christ, but she looks to the future, she has the firm consciousness of being sent - sent by Jesus - of being missionary, bearing the name of Jesus by her prayer, proclaiming it and testifying to it. A Church that is closed in on herself and in the past, a Church that only sees the little rules of behavior, of attitude, is a Church that betrays her own identity; a closed Church betrays her own identity! Then, let us rediscover today all the beauty and responsibility of being the Church apostolic! And remember this: the Church is apostolic because we pray - our first duty - and because we proclaim the Gospel by our life and by our words. ~ Pope Francis

We all have the duty to do good. ~ Pope Francis

Let us pray that the Church be holier and more humble, loving God by serving the poor, the lonely and the sick. ~ Pope Francis

In this work (peace building), the role of religion is fundamental. It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God, ... But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God while ignoring other people. Hence it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam. ~ Pope Francis

Life gradually becomes a surrender to situations conditioned by technology. ~ Pope Francis

Our Mother Mary is full of beauty because she is full of grace. ~ Pope Francis

It is important to draw out the pastoral consequences of the Council's teaching, which reflects an ancient conviction of the Church. First, it needs to be said that in preaching the Gospel a fitting sense of proportion has to be maintained. ~ Pope Francis

Like the Good Samaritan, may we not be ashamed of touching the wounds of those who suffer, but try to heal them with concrete acts of love. ~ Pope Francis

Vanity, showing off, is an attitude that reduces spirituality to a worldly thing, which is the worst sin that could be committed in the church. ~ Pope Francis

Be the first to seek to bring good, do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it. ~ Pope Francis

During my visit to the Philippines, I wanted in a particular way to meet with young people, to listen to you and to talk to you. I want to express the love and the hopes of the Church for you. And I want to encourage you as Christian citizens of this country to offer yourselves passionately and honestly to the great work of renewing your society and helping to build a better world. ~ Pope Francis

Let's ask the Lord for the grace of giving all of us the wisdom to trust only in him, not in things, in human strength, only in him ~ Pope Francis

In a word: charity cannot be neutral, antiseptic, indifferent, lukewarm or impartial! Charity is infectious, it excites, it risks, and it engages! For true charity is always unmerited, unconditional, and gratuitous! ~ Pope Francis

Jesus receives us with all of our limitations, He bring us the mercy of the Father who forgives us, and transforms our heart, rendering it a new heart, capable of loving Him, who loved His own to the end (cf. John 13:1). And this love is manifested in his mercy. Jesus always forgives us. ~ Pope Francis

Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a "disposable" culture which is now spreading. It is no longer simply about exploitation and oppression, but something new. Exclusion ultimately has to do with what it means to be a part of the society in which we live; those excluded are no longer society's underside or its fringes or its disenfranchised - they are no longer even a part of it. The excluded are not the "exploited" but the outcast, the "leftovers". ~ Pope Francis

Holiness doesn't mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith. ~ Pope Francis

Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects, but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as 'unnecessary.' For example, it is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day; children being used as soldiers, abused and killed in armed conflicts; and children being bought and sold in that terrible form of modern slavery which is human trafficking, which is a crime against humanity. ~ Pope Francis

This is Christian hope, that the future is in God's hands. ~ Pope Francis

All it takes is one good person to restore hope. ~ Pope Francis

All Catholics must ask themselves what they personally have done lately to build up the holiness of the church and ensure people feel welcomed and loved in it. ~ Pope Francis

The economic part is the one that came out first because there were some problems about which the press spoke a lot. ~ Pope Francis

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

Poverty that is learned with the humble, the poor, the sick and all those who are on the existential peripheries of life. Theoretical poverty is of no use to us. Poverty is learned by touching the flesh of the poor Christ, in the humble, the poor, the sick, in children. ~ Pope Francis

Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities. ~ Pope Francis

In God's great plan, every detail is important, even yours, even my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, friendships. There are the saints of every day, the "hidden" saints, a sort of "middle class of holiness" to which we can all belong. ~ Pope Francis

Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. ~ Pope Francis

May the God of peace arouse in all an authentic desire for dialogue and reconciliation. Violence cannot be overcome with violence. Violence is overcome with peace. ~ Pope Francis

There is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, they are persons, they are not some vague idea in the clouds. This God spray does not exist! The three persons exist! ~ Pope Francis

The mercy of Jesus is not just sentiment: indeed it is a force that gives life, that raises man up! ~ Pope Francis

Spreading the Gospel means that we are the first to proclaim and live the reconciliation, forgiveness, peace, unity, and love that the Holy Spirit gives us. ~ Pope Francis

No one is saved alone, as an isolated individual, but God attracts us looking at the complex web of relationships that take place in the human community. God enters into this dynamic, this participation in the web of human relationships. ~ Pope Francis

A fundamental role in the renewal of society is played, of course, by the family and especially by young people. ~ Pope Francis

When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist, he did so not because he was in need of repentance, or conversion: he did it to be among people who need forgiveness, among us sinners, and to take upon himself the burden of our sins. ~ Pope Francis

In a world like this, media can help us to feel closer to one another, creating a sense of unity of the human family which can in turn inspire solidarity and serious efforts to ensure a more dignified life for all. ~ Pope Francis

Christ comes among us at Christmas: it is the perfect time for a personal encounter with the Lord. ~ Pope Francis

Please waste time just playing with your kids! ~ Pope Francis

Communications requires study, preparation, and a special attention to truth, goodness and beauty. ~ Pope Francis

Only we big sinners have this grace of knowing what salvation really means. ~ Pope Francis

Narcissism makes people incapable of looking beyond themselves, beyond their own desires and needs. ~ Pope Francis

To evangelize, therefore, it is necessary to open ourselves once again to the horizon of God's Spirit, without being afraid of what he asks us or of where he leads us. ~ Pope Francis

It is through an unbroken chain of witnesses that we come to see the face of Jesus. ~ Pope Francis

The vocation of being a 'protector' [ ... ] means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us [ ... ] In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God's gifts! ~ Pope Francis

Gay marriage will destroy the family ~ Pope Francis

Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare. ~ Pope Francis

The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you. ~ Pope Francis

God is a careful and attentive father, ready to welcome any person who takes a step or even expresses the desire to take a step that leads home. He is there, staring out at the horizon, expecting us, waiting for us. No human sin
however serious
can prevail over or limit mercy. ~ Pope Francis

I want to see the church get closer to the people. I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off within ourselves, in our parishes, schools or structures. Because these need to get out! ~ Pope Francis

You may be asking yourselves, 'Who is this man standing before us?' i would like to reply to that question with something absolutely certain about my own life: The man standing before you is a man who has been forgiven. A man who was, and is, saved from his many sins. ~ Pope Francis

Workers should have Sundays off because Sunday is for the family. Calling for Sundays to be a holiday. ~ Pope Francis

I think with great affection and deep gratitude of my venerable predecessor, Benedict XVI, who during these years of his pontificate has enriched and strengthened the Church with his teaching, his goodness, his guidance, his faith, his humility, and his gentleness, which will remain a spiritual heritage for all. ~ Pope Francis

To change the world we must be good to those who cannot repay us. ~ Pope Francis

Today is my anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Please pray for me and all priests. ~ Pope Francis

The Lord put it clearly: you cannot serve two masters. You have to choose between God and money. ~ Pope Francis

Yesterday, the White House confirmed that President Obama will meet with Pope Francis during his visit in September. Some experts are wondering if they'll discuss their disagreement over contraception. Then Joe Biden said, 'I didn't even know they were dating.' ~ Jimmy Fallon

In our ecclesiastical region there are priests who don't baptize the children of single mothers because they weren't conceived in the sanctity of marriage. These are today's hypocrites. Those who clericalize the church. Those who separate the people of God from salvation. ~ Pope Francis

I think what Pope Francis is saying is that nobody's perfect, you know? And so someone like Joe Biden, you know, where - you know, when he was running for president, people were - there were some bishops that were like don't let him have the Eucharist. And Pope Francis is saying that's not the point of this. ~ Jim Gaffigan

Holy Mother Church teaches us to end the year and also our days with an examination of conscience ... to be grateful and to ask for forgiveness. ~ Pope Francis

When it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of history. ~ Pope Francis

To follow Jesus means to share his merciful love for every human being. ~ Pope Francis

Don't confuse the evil of avoiding pregnancy by itself, with abortion. Abortion is not a theological problem, it is a human problem, it is a medical problem. You kill one person to save another, in the best case scenario. ~ Pope Francis

Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good ... Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place. ~ Pope Francis

This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good. ~ Pope Francis

There is a Marian "style" to the Church's work of evangelization. ~ Pope Francis

It is striking that even some who clearly have solid doctrinal and spiritual convictions frequently fall into a lifestyle which leads to an attachment to financial security, or to a desire for power or human glory at all cost, rather than giving their lives to others in mission. ~ Pope Francis

How beautiful it is to see that young people are 'street preachers,' joyfully bringing Jesus to every street, every town square and every corner of the earth! ~ Pope Francis

These things become the norm: that some homeless people die of cold on the streets is not news. In contrast, a ten point drop on the stock markets of some cities, is a tragedy. A person dying is not news, but if the stock markets drop ten points it is a tragedy! Thus people are disposed of, as if they were trash. ~ Pope Francis

In a family it is normal to take charge of those who need help. Do not be afraid of frailty! ~ Pope Francis

But please know, Jesus never lets you down. Please know that the love and tenderness of Mother Mary never lets you down. And holding on to her mantle and with the power that comes from Jesus love on the cross, let us move forward, always forward, and walk together as brothers and sisters in the Lord forward. ~ Pope Francis

The person who gossips is a terrorist who drops a bomb, destroys, and they destroy others. ~ Pope Francis

We Christians identify Christ with the sun, and the moon with the Church, the community of the faithful. No one, save Jesus Christ, possesses his or her own light. ~ Pope Francis

It is remarkable how weak international political responses have been. The failure of global summits on the environment make it plain that our politics are subject to technology and finance. ~ Pope Francis

The new Pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is now Pope Francis the 1st. Francis was not his first choice for a name. But the Vatican wisely talked him out of Pope Boo Boo. ~ Craig Ferguson

The lack of historical memory is a serious shortcoming in our society. A mentality that can only say, "Then was then, now is now", is ultimately immature. Knowing and judging past events is the only way to build a meaningful future. Memory is necessary for growth. ~ Pope Francis

At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At stake is the total rejection of God's law engraved in our hearts. ~ Pope Francis

The fruits of this profound union with Jesus are marvelous: our whole being is transformed by the grace of the Holy Spirit: soul, intelligence, will, affections and even the body, because we are united in body and spirit. ~ Pope Francis

Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day. ~ Pope Francis

Nurturing and cherishing creation is a command God gives not only at the beginning of history, but to each of us. It is part of his plan; it means causing the world to grow responsibly, transforming it so that it may be a garden, a habitable place for everyone. ~ Pope Francis

Miracles happen. But prayer is needed! Prayer that is courageous, struggling and persevering, not prayer that is a mere formality. ~ Pope Francis

Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life. ~ Pope Francis

From his first hours as pope, Francis has re-enacted or spoken of the great pastoral transformation of Vatican II as his own agenda. ~ Eugene Kennedy

Jesus tells us what the 'protocol' is, on which we will be judged. It is the one we read in chapter 25 of Matthew's Gospel: I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was in prison, I was sick, I was naked and you helped me, clothed me, visited me, took care of me. Whenever we do this to one of our brothers, we do this to Jesus. Caring for our neighbor; for those who are poor, who suffer in body and in soul, for those who are in need. This is the touchstone. ~ Pope Francis

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? ~ Pope Francis

It hurts me when I see a priest or a nun with the latest model car, you can't do this. A car is necessary to do a lot of work, but please, choose a more humble one. If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world. ~ Pope Francis

Are you angry with someone? Pray for that person. That is what Christian love is. ~ Pope Francis

Poverty is part of the natural condition and that is bad enough. But my task is to prevent the aggravation of this condition. ~ Pope Francis

Faith is professed with the lips and with the heart, through words & through love. ~ Pope Francis