Pope Francis in his own words

Mercy and compassion

“Mercy is the true power that can save humanity and the world from sin and evil. Love makes us draw closer to others, it is the soul of faith, it makes faith fruitful. Without love, faith dies. Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life; all of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present to believers. Nothing in her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in mercy.” (Misericordiae Vultus, 2015)

“Do not be afraid of holiness. Do not be afraid to aim high, to allow yourself to be loved and liberated by God. Do not be afraid to let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit. Holiness does not take away our energy, our vitality, or our joy. On the contrary, it is precisely by reaching toward holiness that we become what the Father had in mind when He created us, and we are faithful to our deepest self.” (Gaudete et Exsultate, 2018)

 

Social justice and the poor

“A person who thinks only of building walls and not bridges is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel. It is a serious spiritual disease when we start to exclude people, to judge others as unworthy of our help or our love. The true Christian is one who always keeps the doors of their heart open to others, even those they do not understand or agree with.” (Papal plane from Mexico, February 2016)

“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? How can we stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality crying out to heaven. A society that does not care for the suffering of the poor is a society that has lost its soul.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013)

 

On Joy and evangelisation

“One of the most serious temptations that stifles boldness and zeal is a defeatism which turns us into disillusioned pessimists, sour-faced Christians. Nobody can go off to battle unless they are fully convinced of victory beforehand. Christian joy is born from knowing that, despite difficulties and trials, we are infinitely loved by God. A Church that is always complaining, always lamenting, is a Church that has lost her way.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013)

 

Global crisis and solidarity

“The pandemic has shown us how interconnected we are. It has shown us that we are all in the same boat, and that no one can be saved alone. We must recognize that our shared vulnerability calls us to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and just world. It is time to rethink our priorities and rebuild our society based on solidarity, care for our common home, and attention to the most vulnerable.”
Message for World Day of Peace, January 1, 2021 (Addressing the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic).

 

Faith and spiritual growth

“Faith is born when we experience that we are loved and accompanied by God. It is not simply believing that God exists, but feeling that He is present and acting in our lives. This is the great gift of faith: to know that we are not alone, that He sustains us and will never abandon us. Even in the darkest nights of life, God walks with us.” (Homily, Easter Vigil, 2016)

“Christianity is not an ideal to be followed, a philosophy to adhere to, or a moral to be applied. Christianity is an encounter with Jesus Christ that makes us recognise in the flesh of others, especially the suffering, the very presence of God.” (Address to Italian Doctors, 2014)

 

Humility and leadership

“The world tells us to seek success, power, and money. God tells us to seek humility, service, and love. The real power is in service. Leaders—whether in the Church, in government, in business—must never forget that true greatness is found in humbling oneself, in bending low to wash the feet of others, as Jesus did.” (Homily, Holy Thursday, 2013)

“We must always guard against the temptation to think we are better than others, to feel self-sufficient. This is a great danger in the spiritual life. It is when we are most convinced of our own righteousness that we are furthest from God, because pride has closed our hearts to grace. True holiness begins with the humble admission that we are sinners in need of mercy.” (Angelus, January 2014)

 

Synodality

“A synodal Church is a Church that listens. Listening is the first step in our journey together. If we listen to one another, and listen to the Holy Spirit, we can walk together on the path of renewal and conversion. We are called to be a listening Church, one that engages in dialogue and walks with all people, especially the marginalised, the poor, and those who feel excluded.”
Address to the Synod of Bishops, October 2023.

 

War

“War is always a defeat for humanity. The world is experiencing the tragedy of war again. We have to ask ourselves: what are we doing? What are we doing as nations? What are we doing as individuals? The cry of the poor, the cry of the excluded, is always the cry of God. We must be committed to peace, to ending this senseless war, and to restoring the dignity of every human being.”
General Audience, March 2, 2022. (Pope Francis condemned the war in Ukraine and reiterated his message of peace and the need for global leaders to work toward reconciliation and peace.)

 

Love

“Love is more than a feeling or an emotion—it is an action. To love means to serve, to give oneself, to put others before ourselves. The world today tells us to think only of ourselves, of what we can gain, of what makes us comfortable. But Jesus shows us another way: true joy is found in loving others, especially the weak and the forgotten.” (Homily, World Meeting of Families, 2015)

Environment and responsibility

“We must never forget that the environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility of everyone. If we do not act now, we risk leaving future generations a planet that is devastated, barren, and incapable of sustaining life. A world in which profit is placed above the dignity of people and the health of the earth is a world heading toward destruction. We are called to be stewards, not exploiters, of creation.” (Laudato Si’, 2015)

“The Earth does not belong to us; we are merely its caretakers. Every action we take must be done with the awareness that it affects future generations. When we destroy forests, pollute rivers, or fill the seas with plastic, we are not just harming nature—we are sinning against God, who entrusted us with this world as a gift.” (Speech to Environmental Scientists, 2019)

 

Forgiveness and reconciliation

“The Lord never tires of forgiving—never! It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness. But when we turn to Him with a sincere heart, His mercy always reaches us. The Church must be a place where mercy is freely given, not a place of harsh judgment. If we do not understand this, we fail to grasp the heart of the Gospel.” (Homily, Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse chapel, March 2014)