20 Quotes from Pope Francis. A Voice in the World.
Despite being wrapped up in the conservative tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis does not mince his words when it comes to issues close to his heart.
Many of us would champion his good name even more if he challenged the patriarchal system of the major religions, including the Roman Catholic Church, as well as introduce women priests, support divorce, strongly advocate caring forms of birth control and shed the weight of burdensome theology, archaic beliefs, silk-laden ceremonies and rituals.
The beloved Pope could shed some weight, too, so he can live, speak and write for more years. I suspect the good man is eating too much pasta in Italy!
Nevertheless, I read with love and appreciation much (but not all) of what he says and writes. He speaks up for the poor, the suffering and the impending fate of our Earth. Bless him.
I have been digging around the Inter-Net and found some quotes of Pope Francis worthy of recollection and reflection.
Let us applaud his wisdom and compassion and encourage the Pope to bring the same radical vision to religions. He is truly a benevolent force in the world. After the Cardinals in the Vatican elected him Pope in May 2013, he said to them: “May God forgive you for what you have done.” A sweet response.
20 Quotes from Pope Francis
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We don’t have to expect everything from those who govern us; that would be juvenile.
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The media only writes about the sinners and the scandals, but that’s normal, because a tree that falls makes more noise than a forest that grows.
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I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. The Joy of the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium.
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It’s not true that to be a good Catholic “you have to be like rabbits.” Instead “responsible parenthood” requires that couples regulate the births of their children, as church teaching allows. Spoken in the Philippines.
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You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others. There is a limit. Every religion has its dignity, Response to the Paris terror attacks.
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No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness.
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[If] someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?
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The great ideas which once inspired Europe seem to have lost their attraction, only to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions.
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The question of truth is really a question of memory, deep memory, for it deals with something prior to ourselves and can succeed in uniting us in a way that transcends our petty and limited individual consciousness. From Lumen Fidei: Enciclica sulla.
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None of us can think we are exempt from concerns for the poor and for social justice.
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Once man has lost the fundamental orientation which unifies his existence, he breaks down into the multiplicity of his desires. Lumen Fidei: Enciclica sulla Fede.
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It is not ‘progressive’ to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life. From The Joy of the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium.
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Men and women are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption: it is the culture of waste.
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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?
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The measure of greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.
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Gossip can also kill, because it kills the reputation of the person! It is so terrible to gossip! At first it may seem like a nice thing, even amusing, like enjoying a candy. But in the end, it fills the heart with bitterness, and even poisons us.
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A healthy family life requires frequent use of three phrases: “May I? Thank you, and I’m sorry” and never, never, never end the day without making peace.
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This is the struggle of every person: be free or be a slave.
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Human Rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities.
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All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe in them. What other kind of truth is there?”