Pope Francis' quotable quotes

In more than two years as the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has not shied away from expressing his views on a great variety of issues. New Vision brings you some of his memorable quotes.

During his visit to Curran-Fromhold prison in Philadelphia, US
You are not alone, and should not feel deserted during your time in prison. When Jesus met people, he did not ask about their history.

So, you can move forward and leave your past behind you. The journey of life means getting dirty feet and that everyone needs to be cleansed. It would be bad if the correction centre only works to punish and humiliate prisoners.

Every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes

During his October 1, 2013, interview, La Repubblica newspaper
I believe in God, not in a Catholic God — there is no Catholic God! There is God and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation.

June 5, 2013, general audience, St. Peter’s Square
Men and women are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption: it is the ‘culture of waste.’ If a computer breaks, it is a tragedy, but poverty, the needs and dramas of so many people end up being considered normal.

An interview with La Civiltà Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit journal

When I began to realise that I might be elected pope was at lunch on Wednesday, (March 13, 2013), I felt a deep and inexplicable inner peace and comfort come over me, but along with a great darkness. And those feelings accompanied me, until my election later that day.

The August 31, 2015 Francis Chronicles

God has no difficulty in being understood by children and children have no trouble in understanding God. It is not by chance that in the Gospels, Jesus speaks beautiful and strong words about                                                                        the ‘little ones’. This term indicates all persons who depend on the help of others, particularly children. Children, therefore, are a treasure for humanity and also for the Church because they constantly remind us of the necessary condition for entering into the Kingdom of God: that we must not consider ourselves self-sufficient, but in need of help, of love, and of forgiveness.

Pope Francis in A Big Heart Open to God: A Conversation with Pope Francis

Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs, or anything else, God is in this person’s life. You can, you must try to seek God in every human life. Although the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You  have to trust God.

 In his writing: The Church of Mercy

And here the first word that I wish to say to you: joy! Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy born of having many possessions, but of having encountered a Person: Jesus, in our midst.

An interview with La Civiltà Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit journal

A woman has a different make-up than a man. But what I hear about the role of women is often inspired by an ideology of machismo. The Church cannot be herself without the woman and her role. The woman is essential for the Church. Mary, a woman, is more important than the bishops. I say this because we must   not confuse the function   with the dignity.

We  must, therefore, investigate further the role of women in the Church. We have to work harder to develop a profound theology of the woman. The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions.”

An interview with La Civiltà Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit journal

The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ, all of us, not just Catholics.

I chose to live (in Santa Marta), in Room 201, because when I took possession of the papal apartment (in the palace), inside myself I distinctly heard a ‘no.’ The papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace is not luxurious. It is old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious. But in the end it is like an inverted funnel. It is big and spacious, but the entrance is really tight. People can come only in dribs and drabs, and I cannot live without people. I need to live my life with others.”