The Tablet takes a look back at some of the key tenants and most memorable moments of Pope Francis’ papacy, through his own words.
FIRST WORDS AS POPE
“Brothers and sisters, good evening. You all know that the duty of the conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother cardinals have gone almost to the ends of the earth to get him … but here we are.”
(March 13, 2013)
ON FAITH
“Please do not water down your faith in Jesus Christ. … Faith is whole and entire, not something that you water down. It is faith in Jesus. It is faith in the son of God made man, who loved me, and who died for me.” (July 25, 2013)
ON YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
“I want you to make yourselves heard in your dioceses. I want the noise to go out. I want the church to go out onto the streets. I want us to resist everything worldly, everything static, everything comfortable, everything to do with clericalism, everything that might make us closed in on ourselves.” (July 25, 2013)
ON GAY PRIESTS
“If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” (July 28, 2013)
ON SPREADING RUMORS
“Gossip can also kill because it kills the reputation of the person. .. At first, it may seem like a nice thing, even amusing, like enjoying a candy. But in the end, it fills the heart with bitterness and even poisons us.” (Feb. 16, 2014)
ON CREATION
“We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth; our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air, and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.” (May 24, 2014)
ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
“It is incomprehensible and alarming that, still today, discrimination and restrictions of rights continue for the single fact that one belongs to and publicly professes an unwavering faith. It is unacceptable that real persecution is actually sustained for reasons of religious affiliation! Wars as well! This distorts reason, attacks peace, and humiliates human dignity.” (June 20, 2014)
ON CLERICAL SEXUAL ABUSE
“Before God and his people, I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness. I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse made by family members, as well as by abuse victims themselves. This led to even greater suffering on the part of those who were abused, and it endangered other minors who were at risk.” (July 7, 2014)
ON MERCY
“Mercy: the bridge that connects God and humanity, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.” (April 11, 2015)
ON THE PLANET
“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” (“Laudato Si’,” June 18, 2015)
ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
“It is clearly inconsistent to combat trafficking in endangered species while remaining completely indifferent to human trafficking, unconcerned about the poor, or undertaking to destroy another human being deemed unwanted.” (“Laudato Si’,” June 18, 2015)
ON ECONOMICS
“Let us say ‘no’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality, where money rules, rather than service. That economy kills. That economy excludes. That economy destroys Mother Earth.” (July 9, 2015)
ON THE FAMILY DYNAMIC
“No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love. … May we never lose heart because of our limitations or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us.” (April 8, 2016)
ON REFUGEES
It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help… If I say I am Christian but do these things, I’m a hypocrite.” (Oct. 13, 2016)
ON MIGRATION
“Migrants are our brothers and sisters in search of a better life far from poverty, hunger, exploitation, and the unjust distribution of the planet’s resources, which are meant to be equitably shared by all. Don’t we all want a better, more decent, and prosperous life to share with our loved ones?” (World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2016)
ON MAKING PEACE
“It is of little or no use to raise our voices and run about to find weapons for our protection. What is needed today are peacemakers, not makers of arms; what is needed are peacemakers, and not fomenters of conflict; firefighters and not arsonists; preachers of reconciliation and not instigators of destruction.” (April 28, 2017)
ON RACISM
“We must overcome all forms of racism, of intolerance, and of the instrumentalization of the human person.” (July 18, 2017)
ON AN INCLUSIVE CHURCH
“In the Church, there is room for everyone. ‘Father, but I am a wretch, is there room for me?’ There is room for everyone! All together now, everyone, repeat with me in your own language: Everyone, everyone, everyone.” (Aug. 3, 2023)
ON WELCOMING LGBTQ+ CATHOLICS
“When I say ‘everyone, everyone, everyone,’ it’s the people. The church receives people — everyone — and does not ask what you are.” (Nov. 1, 2023)
ON WAR AND MORALITY
“Even in war, morality is to be safeguarded. War is immoral, but the rules of war indicate some morality. When this is not respected, you can see — as we say in Argentina — the “bad blood” of these things.” (Sept. 29, 2024)
ON WORLD HUNGER
“The silent acceptance by human society of famine is a scandalous injustice and a grave offense. Those who, through usury and greed, cause the starvation and death of their brothers and sisters in the human family are indirectly committing a homicide.” (Nov. 18, 2024)