selected quotes of pope francis

8/9/2019 Selected Quotes of Pope Francis

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he must open his arms to protect all of */! ?nl# those $ho serve $ith love are a&le to protect@ ).+-9+-./

Povert# that is learned $ith the hum&le, the poor, the sic% and all those $ho are on the existential

peripheries of life! Theoretical povert# is of no use to us! Povert# is learned touching the flesh of

the poor Christ, in the hum&le, the poor, the sic%, in children! )+4+-./

A$e must also ac%no$ledge that the ma1orit# of the men and $omen of our time continue to live dail#

in situations of insecurit#, $ith dire consequences! Certain pathologies are increasing, $ith their

ps#chological consequences" fear and desperation grip the hearts of man# people, even in the so=

called rich countries" the 1o# of life is diminishing" indecenc# and violence are on the rise" povert# is

&ecoming more and more evident! People have to struggle to live and, frequentl#, to live in an

undignified $a#! )+-*+-./

0e have &egun a thro$ a$a# culture! This tendenc# is seen on the level of individuals and $hole

societies" and it is &eing promoted@ :n circumstances li%e these, solidarit#, $hich is the treasure of the

poor, is often considered counterproductive, opposed to the logic of finance and the econom#! 0hile

the income of a minorit# is increasing exponentiall#, that of the ma1orit# is crum&ling! )+-*+-./

: encourage the financial experts and the political leaders of #our countries to consider the $ords of

Saint John Chr#sostom' 2ot to share one8s goods $ith the poor is to ro& them and to deprive them of

life! :t is not our goods that $e possess, &ut theirs!6 )+-*+-./

5an is not in charge toda#, mone# is in charge, mone# rules!


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$omen are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption' it is the 2culture of $aste!6 )*++-.,

(nvironment/

Amen and $omen are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption' it is the 2culture of $aste!6 :f

#ou &rea% a computer it is a traged#, &ut povert#, the needs, the dramas of so man# people end up

&ecoming the norm! )*++-., (nvironment/

:n #our school #ou ta%e part in various activities that ha&ituate #ou not to shut #ourselves in on

#ourselves or in #our small $orld, &ut to &e open to others, especiall# to the poorest and neediest, to

$or% to improve the $orld in $hich $e live! Be men and $omen $ith others and for others, real

champions in the service of others! To &e magnanimous $ith interior li&ert# and a spirit of service,

spiritual formation is necessar#! Dear children, dear #ouths, love Jesus Christ ever more@ )*++-.

Jesuit Schools/

: &elieve that, #es, the times tal% to us of so much povert# in the $orld and this is a scandal! Povert#

in the $orld is a scandal! :n a $orld $here there is so much $ealth, so man# resources to feed

ever#one, it is unfathoma&le that there are so man# hungr# children, that there are so man# children

$ithout an education, so man# poor persons! Povert# toda# is a cr#! 0e all have to thin% if $e can

&ecome a little poorer, all of us have to do this! Ho$ can : &ecome a little poorer in order to &e more

li%e Jesus, $ho $as the poor Teacher )*++-. Jesuit SchoolsEF G 7/

0here do : find hope :n the poor Jesus, Jesus $ho made himself poor for us! 7nd #ou spo%e of

povert#! Povert# calls us to so$ hope! This seems a &it difficult to understand! : remem&er r! 7rrupe

ather


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that, in the end, leads #ou to &ecoming a nothing in life! Koung persons should &et on their high

ideals, that8s m# advice! But $here do : find hope :n the flesh of Jesus $ho suffers and in true

povert#! There is a connection &et$een the t$o! )*++-. Jesuit SchoolsEF G 7/

7mong our tas%s as $itnesses to the love of Christ is that of giving a voice to the cr# of the poor, so

that the# are not a&andoned to the la$s of an econom# that seems at times to treat people as mere

consumers! )*+->+-./

The proclamation of the


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The $orld$ide financial and economic crisis seems to highlight their distortions and a&ove all the

gravel# deficient human perspective, $hich reduces man to one of his needs alone, namel#,

consumption! 0orse #et, human &eings themselves are no$ada#s considered as consumer goods

$hich can &e used and thro$n a$a#! )+-*+-./

0hile the income of a minorit# is increasing exponentiall#, that of the ma1orit# is crum&ling! This

im&alance results from ideologies $hich uphold the a&solute autonom# of mar%ets and financial

speculation, and thus den# the right of control to States, $hich are themselves charged $ith providing

for the common good! )+-*+-./

: encourage the financial experts and the political leaders of #our countries to consider the $ords of

Saint John Chr#sostom' 2ot to share one8s goods $ith the poor is to ro& them and to deprive them of

life! :t is not our goods that $e possess, &ut theirs!6 )+-*+-./

The Pope appeals for disinterested solidarit# and for a return to person=centred ethics in the $orld of

finance and economics! )+-*+-./

The Church encourages those in po$er to &e trul# at the service of the common good of their peoples!

She urges financial leaders to ta%e account of ethics and solidarit#! 7nd $h# should the# not turn to


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The current crisis is not onl# economic and financial &ut is rooted in an ethical and anthropological

crisis! Concern $ith the idols of po$er, profit, and mone#, rather than $ith the value of the human

person has &ecome a &asic norm for functioning and a crucial criterion for organiMation! 0e have

forgotten and are still forgetting that over and a&ove &usiness, logic and the parameters of the mar%et

is the human &eing" and that something is men and $omen in as much as the# are human &eings

virtue of their profound dignit#' to offer them the possi&ilit# of living a dignified life and of activel#

participating in the common good! Benedict NO: reminded us that precisel# &ecause it is human, all

human activit#, including economic activit#, must &e ethicall# structured and governed )cf! (nc#clical

;etter Caritas in Oeritate, n! .*/! 0e must return to the centralit# of the human &eing, to a more

ethical vision of activities and of human relationships $ithout the fear of losing something! )+3+-./

5an is not in charge toda#, mone# is in charge, mone# rules!


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affluent and those $ho must &e satisfied $ith the crum&s falling from the ta&le, &ut a&ove all to

satisf# the demands of 1ustice, fairness and respect for ever# human &eing! )*+3+-./

The human person and human dignit# ris% &eing turned into vague a&stractions in the face of issues

li%e the use of force, $ar, malnutrition, marginaliMation, violence, the violation of &asic li&erties, and

financial speculation, $hich presentl# affects the price of food, treating it li%e an# other merchandise

and overloo%ing its primar# function! ?ur dut# is to continue to insist, in the present international

context, that the human person and human dignit# are not simpl# catch$ords, &ut pillars for creating

shared rules and structures capa&le of passing &e#ond purel# pragmatc or technical approaches in

order to eliminate divisions and to &ridge existing differences! :n this regard, there is a need to oppose

the shortsighted economic interests and the mentalit# of po$er of a relative fe$ $ho exclude the

ma1orit# of the $orld8s peoples, generating povert# and marginaliMation and causing a &rea%do$n in

societ#! There is li%e$ise a need to com&at the corruption $hich creates privileges for some and

in1ustices for man# others! )*+3+-./

;a&or

: address a strong appeal from m# heart that the dignit# and safet# of the $or%er al$a#s &e

protected! )>+34+-., Legina Caeli/

0or% is fundamental to the dignit# of a person! 0or%, to use an image, 2anoints6 us $ith dignit#, fills

us $ith dignit#, ma%es us similar to


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&rothers and sisters in faith and all men and $omen of good $ill for a decisive choice to com&at

traffic%ing in persons, $hich includes 2slave la&or!6 )+-+-./

There is no $orse material povert#, : am %een to stress, than the povert# $hich prevents people from

earning their &read and deprives them of the dignit# of $or%! )+3+-./

Common


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inferior qualit# tac%ed onto political programmes! The Church encourages those in po$er to &e trul# at

the service of the common good of their peoples! )+-*+-./

Ato 2cultivate and care6 encompasses not onl# the relationship &et$een us and the environment,

&et$een man and creation, it also regards human relationships! The Popes have spo%en of human

ecolog#, closel# lin%ed to environmental ecolog#! 0e are living in a time of crisis' $e see this in the

environment, &ut a&ove all $e see this in man%ind! )*++-., (nvironment/

The human person is in danger' this is certain, the human person is in danger toda#, here is the

urgenc# of human ecolog#@ 7nd it is a serious danger &ecause the cause of the pro&lem is not

superficial &ut profound' it is not 1ust a matter of economics, &ut of ethics and anthropolog#! )*++-.,

(nvironment/

Human life, the person is no longer perceived as a primar# value to &e respected and protected,

especiall# if poor or disa&led, if not #et useful Q such as the un&orn child Q or no longer needed Q such

as the elderl#! )*++-., (nvironment/

Charit#+Service

A&ecause $ith us $hat is highest must &e at the service of others! ).+34+-., Prison for 5inors/

But #ou too, help one another' help one another al$a#s! ?ne another! :n this $a#, helping one

another, $e $ill do some good! ).+34+-., Prison for 5inors/

0e must not forget that true po$er, at $hatever level, is service, $hich has its luminous summit on

the Cross! 0ith great $isdom Benedict NO: reminded the Church man# times that for man, authorit#

is often s#non#mous $ith possession, dominion, success! or


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of the */! ?nl# those $ho serve $ith love are a&le to protect@ ).+-9+-./

Kou tell us that to love


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&rethren, #ou did it to me6 )5t 3'>/! ;oving


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1ourne# do $e have to ma%e in order to actuall# live the ne$ la$ E the la$ of the Hol# Spirit $ho acts

in us, the la$ of charit#, of love@ ;oo%ing in ne$spapers or on television $e see so man# $ars &et$een

Christians' ho$ does this happen 0ithin the People of +-./

Dear &rothers and sisters, the Church loves #ou@ Be an active presence in the communit#, as living

cells, as living stones! )++-./

Kou have a specific and important mission, that of %eeping alive the relationship &et$een the faith and

the cultures of the peoples to $hom #ou &elong! ! ! ! 0Ie have to follo$ Christ along the concrete

path of our dail# lives so that he can transform us! )++-./

or ever# Christian, the proclamation and $itnessing of the


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irst' Jesus! ! ! ! :f $e forge ahead $ith our o$n arrangements, $ith other things, $ith &eautiful things

&ut $ithout Jesus $e ma%e no head$a#, it does not $or%! Jesus is more important! ! ! !The second

$ord is' pra#er! ;oo%ing at the face of


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The Church must step outside herself! To go $here To the outs%irts of existence, $hatever the# ma#

&e, &ut she must step out! Jesus tells us' 2


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courage, hope and ne$ vigour for the 1ourne#! 5a# the Church &e a place of


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variet# of mem&ers! 0ithin the communion of the Church, and in union $ith the Pope and Bishops,

each of us has a part to pla#, a gift to share, a service to offer, for &uilding up the Bod# of Christ in

love! ;et us as% the ;ord to help us re1ect ever# form of divisiveness and conflict in our families,

parishes and local Churches! 7t the same time, let us as% for the grace to open our hearts to others,

to promote unit# and to live in harmon# as mem&ers of the one Bod# of Christ, inspired the gift of

love $hich the Hol# Spirit pours into our hearts! )*+-9+-./

The Hol# Spirit, in the variet# of his gifts, unites us and ena&les us to contri&ute to the &uilding up of

the Church in holiness! :n this great $or%, each of us has a part to pla#" each of us, as a 2living

stone6, is needed for the gro$th and the &eaut# of


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;et us as% ourselves' ho$ do : follo$ Jesus Jesus spea%s in silence in the 5#ster# of the (ucharist!

He reminds us ever# time that follo$ing him means going out of ourselves and not ma%ing our life a

possession of our o$n, &ut rather a gift to him and to others! )+.+-., Corpus Christi Homil#/

This evening $e too are gathered round the ta&le of the ;ord, the ta&le of the (ucharistic sacrifice, in

$hich he once again gives us his Bod# and ma%es present the one sacrifice of the Cross! :t is in

listening to his $ord, in nourishing ourselves $ith his Bod# and his Blood that he moves us on from

&eing a multitude to &eing a communit#, from anon#mit# to communion! The (ucharist is the

sacrament of communion that &rings us out of individualism so that $e ma# follo$ him together, living

out our faith in him! Therefore $e should all as% ourselves &efore the ;ord' ho$ do : live the

(ucharist Do : live it anon#mousl# or as a moment of true communion $ith the ;ord, and also $ith all

the &rothers and sisters $ho share this same &anquet 0hat are our (ucharistic cele&rations li%e

)+.+-., Corpus Christi Homil#/

0here does the multiplication of the loaves come from The ans$er lies in Jesus8 request to the

disciples' 2Kou give themA6, 2to give6, to share! 0hat do the disciples share The little the# have' five

loaves and t$o fish! Ho$ever it is those ver# loaves and fish in the ;ord8s hands that feed the entire

cro$d! 7nd it is the disciples themselves, &e$ildered as the# face the insufficienc# of their means, the

povert# of $hat the# are a&le to ma%e availa&le, $ho get the people to sit do$n and $ho E trusting in

Jesus8 $ords E distri&ute the loaves and fish that satisf# the cro$d! 7nd this tells us that in the

Church, &ut also in societ#, a %e# $ord of $hich $e must not &e frightened is 2solidarit#6, that is, the

a&ilit# to ma%e $hat $e have, our hum&le capacities, availa&le to


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that never ceases to amaMe us'


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7 good priest can &e recogniMed the $a# his people are anointed' this is a clear proof! 0hen our

people are anointed $ith the oil of gladness, it is o&vious' for example, $hen the# leave 5ass loo%ing

as if the# have heard good ne$s! ?ur people li%e to hear the


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cele&rants of the m#ster# of the ;ord8s death and resurrection, strive to put to death $hatever in #our

mem&ers is sinful and to $al% in ne$ness of life! )>+3-+-./

2Do #ou love me6" 27re #ou m# friend6! The ?ne $ho scrutiniMes hearts )cf! Lom 4'3/, ma%es

himself a &eggar of love and questions us on the one trul# essential issue, a premiss and condition for

feeding his sheep, his lam&s, his Church! 5a# ever# ministr# &e &ased on this intimac# $ith the ;ord"

living from him is the measure of our ecclesial service $hich is expressed in the readiness to o&e#, to

hum&le ourselves, as $e heard in the ;etter to the Philippians, and for the total gift of self )cf! 3'*=

--/! )+3.+-./

5oreover, the consequence of loving the ;ord is giving ever#thing E trul# ever#thing, even our life E

for him! This is $hat must distinguish our pastoral ministr#" it is the litmus test that tells us ho$

deepl# $e have em&raced the gift received in responding to Jesus8 call, and ho$ closel# &ound $e are

to the individuals and communities that have &een entrusted to our care! 0e are not the expression of

a structure or of an organiMational need' even $ith the service of our authorit# $e are called to &e a

sign of the presence and action of the Lisen ;ord" thus to &uild up the communit# in &rotherl# love!

)+3.+-./

Housing

Athese things &ecome the norm' that some homeless people die of cold on the streets is not ne$s! :n

contrast, a ten point drop on the stoc% mar%ets of some cities, is a traged#! 7 person d#ing is not

ne$s, &ut if the stoc% mar%ets drop ten points it is a traged#@ Thus people are disposed of, as if the#

$ere trash! )*++-., (nvironment/

Creation+(nvironment

;et us protect Christ in our lives, so that $e can protect others, so that $e can protect creation@

).+-9+-./


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The vocation of &eing a 2protector6, ho$ever, is not 1ust something involving us Christians alone" it

also has a prior dimension $hich is simpl# human, involving ever#one! :t means protecting all

creation, the &eaut# of the created $orld, as the Boo% of


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urturing and cherishing creation is a command


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Solidarit#

;et us remem&er Paul O:8s $ords' 2or the Catholic Church, no one is a stranger, no one is excluded,

no one is far a$a#6 )Homil# for the closing of the Second Oatican Council, 4 Decem&er -9*/! :ndeed,

$e are a single human famil# that is 1ourne#ing on to$ard unit#, ma%ing the most of solidarit# and

dialogue among peoples in the multiplicit# of differences! )+3>+-./

Solidarit#Ais a structural value of the social doctrine, as Blessed John Paul :: reminded us! )+3+-./

0ell, this 2something $rong6 no longer regards onl# the south of the $orld &ut also the entire planet!

Hence the need 2to rethin% solidarit#6 no longer as simpl# assistance for the poorest, &ut as a glo&al

rethin%ing of the $hole s#stem, as a quest for $a#s to reform it and correct it in a $a# consistent $ith

the fundamental human rights of all human &eings! :t is essential to restore to this $ord 2solidarit#6,

vie$ed as%ance the $orld of economics E as if it $ere a &ad $ord E the social citiMenship that it

deserves! Solidarit# is not an additional attitude, it is not a form of social alms=giving &ut, rather, a

social value" and it as%s us for its citiMenship! )+3+-./

5igrants and Lefugees

The Church is mother and her motherl# attention is expressed $ith special tenderness and closeness

to those $ho are o&liged to flee their o$n countr# and exist &et$een rootlessness and integration!

This tension destro#s people! Christian compassion E this 2suffering $ith6, compassion E is expressed

first of all in the commitment to o&tain %no$ledge of the events that force people to leave their

homeland, and, $here necessar#, to give voice to those $ho cannot manage to ma%e their cr# of

distress and oppression heard! B# doing this #ou also carr# out an important tas% in sensitising

Christian communities to the multitudes of their &rethren scarred $ounds that mar% their

existence' violence, a&use, the distance from famil# love, traumatic events, flight from home,

uncertaint# a&out the future in refugee camps! These are all dehumaniMing elements and must spur

ever# Christian and the $hole communit# to practical concern! )+3>+-./


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: $ould li%e to as% #ou all to see a ra# of hope as $ell in the e#es and hearts of refugees and of those

$ho have &een forci&l# displaced! 7 hope that is expressed in expectations for the future, in the desire

for friendship, in the $ish to participate in the host societ# also through learning the language, access

to emplo#ment and the education of children! : admire the courage of those $ho hope to &e a&le

graduall# to resume a normal life, $aiting for 1o# and love to return to &righten their existence! 0e

can and must all nourish this hope@ )+3>+-./

7&ove all : as% leaders and legislators and the entire international communit# a&ove all to confront the

realit# of those $ho have &een displaced force, $ith effective pro1ects and ne$ approaches in order

to protect their dignit#, to improve the qualit# of their life and to face the challenges that are emerging

from modern forms of persecution, oppression and slaver#! )+3>+-./

The# are human people, : stress this, $ho are appealing for solidarit# and assistance, $ho need

urgent action &ut also and a&ove all understanding and %indness!


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Dear friends, let us not forget the flesh of Christ $hich is in the flesh of refugees' their flesh is the

flesh of Christ! :t is also #our tas% to direct all the institutions $or%ing in the area of forced migration

to ne$ forms of co=responsi&ilit#! This phenomenon is unfortunatel# constantl# spreading! Hence #our

tas% is increasingl# demanding in order to promote tangi&le responses of closeness, 1ourne#ing $ith

people, ta%ing into account the different local &ac%grounds! )+3>+-./

ood+Hunger

:f in so man# parts of the $orld there are children $ho have nothing to eat, that8s not ne$s, it seems

normal! :t cannot &e this $a#@ )*++-., (nvironment/

This culture of $aste has made us insensitive even to the $aste and disposal of food, $hich is even

more despica&le $hen all over the $orld, unfortunatel#, man# individuals and families are suffering

from hunger and malnutrition! )*++-., (nvironment/

Consumerism has led us to &ecome used to an excess and dail# $aste of food, to $hich, at times, $e

are no longer a&le to give a 1ust value, $hich goes $ell &e#ond mere economic parameters! 0e should

all remem&er, ho$ever, that thro$ing food a$a# is li%e stealing from the ta&les of the the poor, the

hungr#@ )*++-., (nvironment/

: encourage ever#one to reflect on the pro&lem of thro$n a$a# and $asted food to identif# $a#s and

means that, seriousl# addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarit# and sharing $ith the need#!

)*++-., (nvironment/

A$hen food is shared in a fair $a#, $ith solidarit#, $hen no one is deprived, ever# communit# can

meet the needs of the poorest! Human ecolog# and environmental ecolog# $al% together! )*++-.,

(nvironment/


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0e are called not onl# to respect the natural environment, &ut also to sho$ respect for, and solidarit#

$ith, all the mem&ers of our human famil#! These t$o dimensions are closel# related" toda# $e are

suffering from a crisis $hich is not onl# a&out the 1ust management of economic resources, &ut also

a&out concern for human resources, for the needs of our &rothers and sisters living in extreme

povert#, and especiall# for the man# children in our $orld lac%ing adequate education, health care and

nutrition! Consumerism and a 2culture of $aste6 have led some of us to tolerate the $aste of precious

resources, including food, $hile others are literall# $asting a$a# from hunger! : as% all of #ou to

reflect on this grave ethical pro&lem in a spirit of solidarit# grounded in our common responsi&ilit# for

the earth and for all our &rothers and sisters in the human famil#! )*++-., (nvironment/

0e are all a$are that one of the first effects of grave food crises Q and not simpl# those caused

natural disasters or violent conflicts Q is the uprooting of individuals, families and communities! The

separation is a painful one" it is not limited to their lands, &ut extends to their entire existential and

spiritual environment, threatening and at times shattering their fe$ certainties in life! This process,

$hich is no$ ta%ing place $orld$ide, demands that international relations once more &e regulated

their underl#ing ethical principles and recover the authentic spirit of solidarit# $hich can guarantee the

effectiveness of ever# cooperative underta%ing! )*+3+-./

Lights and Lesponsi&ilities

Toda# the Church is rene$ing her urgent appeal that the dignit# and centralit# of ever# individual

al$a#s &e safeguarded, $ith respect for fundamental rights, as her social teaching emphasiMes! She

as%s that these rights reall# &e extended for millions of men and $omen on ever# continent $herever

the# are not recogniMed! :n a $orld in $hich a lot is said a&out rights, ho$ often is human dignit#

actuall# trampled upon@ :n a $orld in $hich so much is said a&out rights, it seems that the onl# thing

that has an# rights is mone#! Dear &rothers and sisters, $e are living in a $orld $here mone#

commands! 0e are living in a $orld, in a culture $here the fixation on mone# holds s$a#! )+3>+-./

amil#+Communit#


27/33


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$hich can ma%e even the most adverse situations more &eara&le, and &ring a spirit of true fraternit#

to our $orld, ena&ling it to feel as a single famil#, $here the greatest attention is paid to those most in

need! )*+3+-./


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innocent people, and $here great num&ers of persons, including children, are held hostage terrorist

groups! Peace in the (ast of the Democratic Lepu&lic of Congo, and in the Central 7frican Lepu&lic,

$here man# have &een forced to leave their homes and continue to live in fear! Peace in 7sia, a&ove

all on the Rorean peninsula' ma# disagreements &e overcome and a rene$ed spirit of reconciliation

gro$! Peace in the $hole $orld, still divided greed loo%ing for eas# gain, $ounded the

selfishness $hich threatens human life and the famil#, selfishness that continues in human traffic%ing,

the most extensive form of slaver# in this t$ent#=first centur#" human traffic%ing is the most

extensive form of slaver# in this t$ent#=first centur#@ Peace to the $hole $orld, torn apart violence

lin%ed to drug traffic%ing and the iniquitous exploitation of natural resources@ Peace to this our

(arth@ 5ade the risen Jesus &ring comfort to the victims of natural disasters and ma%e us responsi&le

guardians of creation! ).+.-+-./

5a# the risen ;ord, the conqueror of sin and death, &e a support to #ou all, especiall# to the $ea%est

and neediest! Than% #ou for #our presence and for the $itness of #our faith! ! ! ! To all of #ou :

affectionatel# sa# again' ma# the risen Christ guide all of #ou and the $hole of humanit# on the paths

of 1ustice, love and peace! ).+.-+-./

This morning : cele&rated Hol# 5ass $ith several soldiers and $ith the parents of some of those $ho

died in the missions for peace, $ho see% to further reconciliation and peace in countries in $hich so

much fraternal &lood is spilled in $ars that are al$a#s madness! 2(ver#thing is lost in $ar! (ver#thing

is gained $ith peace6! )*+3+-./

Traffic%ing

2TIrade in people6 is a vile activit#, a disgrace to our societies that claim to &e civiliMed@ (xploiters

and clients at all levels should ma%e a serious examination of conscience &oth in the first person and

&efore +-./


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Toda# throughout the $orld the 0orld Da# 7gainst Child ;a&our is &eing cele&rated $ith a special

reference to the exploitation of children in domestic $or%' a deplora&le and constantl# increasing

phenomenon, particularl# in poor countries! There are millions of minors, mostl# #oung girls, $ho are

victims of this hidden form of exploitation that often entails a&use as $ell, mistreatment and

discrimination! This reall# is slaver#@ : sincerel# hope that the international communit# can initiate

more effective measures to confront this real scourge! 7ll children must &e a&le to pla#, stud#, pra#

and gro$, in their o$n families, and do so in a harmonious context of love and serenit#! :t is their

right and our dut#! 5an# people instead of letting them pla# ma%e slaves of them' this is a scourge! 7

serene childhood allo$s children to loo% for$ard $ith confidence to life and the future! 0oe to those

$ho stifle their 1o#ful impulse of hope@ )*+-3+-./

(cumenism+:nterfaith

The Church is li%e$ise conscious of the responsi&ilit# $hich all of us have for our $orld, for the $hole

of creation, $hich $e must love and protect! There is much that $e can do to &enefit the poor, the

need# and those $ho suffer, and to favour 1ustice, promote reconciliation and &uild peace! But &efore

all else $e need to %eep alive in our $orld the thirst for the a&solute, and to counter the dominance of

a one=dimensional vision of the human person, a vision $hich reduces human &eings to $hat the#

produce and to $hat the# consume' this is one of the most insidious temptations of our time!

)+3+-./

0e %no$ ho$ much violence has resulted in recent times from the attempt to eliminate


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magisterium, as la# people $ho live in societ#, in the $orld of economics and $or% is reall# &eautiful

and important! )+3+-./

:t is 5ass itself $hich integrates us into Christ8s immense $or% of salvation, $hich hones our spiritual

vision so that $e can perceive his love' his 2prophec# in action6! 0ith this he initiated in the Upper

Loom the gift of himself on the Cross, his definitive victor# over sin and death, $hich $e proudl# and

1o#full# proclaim! Blessed John Paul :: once said at a Loman Seminar# to the #oung men $ho $ere

questioning him on the profound recollection $ith $hich he $as cele&rating the 5ass, that 2$e must

learn ho$ to live Hol# 5ass6 )cf! Oisit to the Pontifical


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His 0ord, present in the poor, He is present, $al%ing $ith us! 7nd this is closeness' the shepherd close

to his floc%, close to his sheep, $hom he %no$s, one one! )*++-. Sacred Heart/

Jesus $anted to sho$ us his heart as the heart that loved so deepl#! or this reason $e have this

commemoration toda#, especiall# of

selected quotes of pope francis

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