Quotes from Pope Francis demonstrate the late pontiff’s views on everything from compassion to the environment. Pope Francis died on Monday, 21 April, and his funeral takes place on Saturday. Here are some of the pope’s views, in his own words.
Pope Francis’s words on mercy and inclusion
For many, Pope Francis was a compassionate moral leader. Throughout the years, Francis was often quoted encouraging inclusivity and kindness.
‘A bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.’
In an Angelus sermon in 2017, Pope Francis reflected on lessons in a book about mercy by one of the Church’s cardinals.
‘Who am I to judge?’
One of Pope Francis’s most famous quotes, AP News reports that this remark was given in response to a question about a purportedly gay priest in 2013.
Although many feel his reforms did not go far enough, Francis’s papacy did oversee some progress. Women have greater roles in the Church, and blessings for unmarried and same-sex couples are available.
Quotes from Pope Francis about reforming the Church
The first Latin American pope, and the first to hail from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis set himself the task of reforming the Vatican.
‘How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor!’
One of Pope Francis’s most famous quotes, he used these words to explain why he had chosen his papal name. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the new pope looked to St Francis of Assisi for inspiration. “He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man,” Francis said to the media just after his election.
‘We must be a Church that goes out to the peripheries.’
Pope Francis also used his apostolic exhortation in 2013 to call on the Church to reach out to the marginalised and those on the outskirts of society.
Pope Francis’s words of wisdom on the environment
In 2015, Francis published Laudato Si, a 183-page papal letter sent to all Catholic bishops, urging “care for our common home”. It’s credited with building support for the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, where 196 countries signed a treaty pledging to keep global warming below 2°C.
‘The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.’
In the letter, the pope also noted that the climate crisis was inseparable from social issues.
Pope Francis’s words on peace
The pope was an outspoken supporter of conflict resolution. In his last Easter sermon, he called for peace across the world.
Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were mentioned by name in his speech. Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Ukraine, Myanmar, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Yemen also received Pope Francis’s prayers.
‘There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.’
Furthermore, Pope Francis was quoted as saying Easter represented a “fitting” time for the release of political prisoners and prisoners of war. He also called for disarmament around the world.
Which of Pope Francis’s quotes speak to you?
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