Remarkable Quotes from Pope Francis Following His Demise
Hey there! Let's dive into the straight-talkin' world of Pope Francis, shall we? This guy's known for his candor, shocking some folks and sparking controversy left and right. Here are some of his standout quotes:
On being Pope: "As you know, it was the duty of the conclave to give Rome a bishop. It seems my cardinal brothers went nearly to the ends of the Earth to get him." (March 2013)
For the poor Church: "I want a poor Church and a Church for the poor." (March 2013)
On judgment: "No, I didn't want to be pope. A person who wants to be pope loves himself too much." (June 2013)
On the LGBTQ+ community: "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" (July 2013)
On global injustice: "We've become accustomed to the suffering of others. It doesn't concern us. It doesn't interest us. It's not our problem! (...) The globalization of indifference has taken away our ability to weep!" (July 2013)
On the Curia: "A curia that does not criticize itself, that does not seek to improve, that does not try to change, is a sick body." (December 2013)
On the environment: "God forgives always, people sometimes, nature never. We must take care of nature so that it does not respond with destruction." (November 2014)
On consumerism: "And so we waste our God-given gifts by preoccupying ourselves with trivialities. We spend our money on frivolities and turn inward on ourselves." (January 2015)
On population control: "Some people believe - forgive the expression - that good Catholics should breed like rabbits." (January 2015)
On the economy: "The rhythm of consumption, waste, and environmental change has exceeded the planet's capacity, so that the current lifestyle can only end in catastrophe." (June 2015, in his environmental encyclical "Laudato si'")
On Europe: "I dream of a Europe where it cannot be said that its commitment to human rights was its last priority." (May 2016, upon receiving the Charlemagne Prize)
On World War I massacres: "This tragedy, this genocide, unfortunately opened the sad list of horrendous catastrophes of the past century, made possible by abnormal racist, ideological, or religious motivations." (June 2016)
On reforming the Church: "Making reforms in Rome is like cleaning the Egyptian Sphinx with a toothbrush." (December 2017)
On abortion: "That's not right. It's not fair to kill a human being, even if it's small. It's like hiring a hitman to solve a problem." (October 2018)
On abuse in the Church: "I want to stress clearly here: if even a single case of abuse is found within the Church - which is an abomination in itself - it will be dealt with with the utmost seriousness." (February 2019)
On peace: "Peace is not created with weapons, but by extending hands and opening hearts." (March 2024 in his traditional Easter message on St. Peter's Square regarding the Gaza conflict)
On the environment: "The destruction of the environment is an offense against God, a sin that is not only personal but also structural, a sin that puts all people at great risk, especially the most vulnerable, and threatens to create a conflict between generations." (May 2024 in a message at the World Climate Summit COP28)
Francis has made waves with his forward-thinking views, criticisms of capitalism, and unapologetic stances on social justice issues. His quotes reflect a complex, sometimes polarizing, but always riveting approach to his role as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Keep it locked, 'cause this Francis guy's always got something to say!
- Francis's environmental encyclical "Laudato si'" criticizes the current global economic system, stating that the rhythm of consumption, waste, and environmental change has exceeded the planet's capacity, leading to potential catastrophe.
- Morgan Tsvangirai, a leader in the environmental-science community, emphasized the importance of addressing climate-change issues in combination with economic and social policy, believing that finance should be used as a tool to combat environmental degradation.
- In his forward-thinking leadership approach, Pope Francis has called for businesses to take responsibility in the fight against climate-change, urging them to make sustainable and eco-friendly choices for the betterment of the environment and the future of our society.
