Monuments in 2,300 cities light up in Sant’Egidio campaign to stop “highly inhuman and useless” capital punishment that “reduces states to mere perpetrators of injustice”
In message to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for St. Andrew’s Day, Pope encourages Churches “to offer an example of dialogue, mutual respect and practical cooperation” for peace
“For us Christians. the future has a name and this name is hope”, Francis encourages participants in Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church in Verona, Italy
Pope invites all to to get involved “in preparing for a holy Christmas by spreading the Word of God and caring for our Common Home”
“Where there is no unity, there is no Spirit of the Lord. The Lord always seeks unity, which does not mean uniformity”, Francis writes in message to Slovenian Caritas
“May the Lord be close to you as you are close to the sick”, Pope prays in video for health professionals in his native Argentina
“We need to accept structurally that the poor have sufficient dignity to sit at our meetings, participate in our discussions and bring bread to their own tables”, Francis clamours
In message to Latin American Church, Pope proposes economies based on Economies based on “contributing, sharing and distributing, not on possessing, excluding and accumulating”
In message to Passionists for 300th anniversary, Francis warns “human manipulation” to blame for “worrying… pain and decay” of natural world
“Compassion for the suffering is the only vaccine in the global war against the merciless virus. We shall win only when we treat our brothers and sisters’ tears as our own”, pleads Cardinal Bo of Myanmar
Francis encourages refugee advocates “to reach out the hand of friendship to those who are alone, accompanying them and strengthening their voice”
Ahead of the World Day of the Poor Sunday, Rome sounds alarm on “ever-increasing number of families who find themselves in objective difficulty” due to coronavirus crisis
“War is the negation of all rights and a dramatic assault on the environment. If we want true integral human development for all, we must work tirelessly to avoid war”, Francis pleads
Pontiff calls for advances in artificial intelligence and robotics to be “oriented towards respecting the dignity of the person and of Creation”
The movement ‘Promesses d’Eglise’ is setting its sights on the full recognition of the equal dignity of the baptised and more democracy in the Church, among other demands
In message of condolence, Francis implores “that violence and hatred cease and that peaceful coexistence in society be promoted”
In wake of Nice attack, the Catholic group calls on Christians and Muslims “to dissociate religion from all forms of violence perpetrated in the name of God”
EU Bishops’ president says Europe “called to build a future for the whole world”, deplores migrant pushbacks on Greece’s external borders: “Surely policies must change”
“Europe, find yourself! Rediscover your most deeply-rooted ideals. Be yourself!”, Francis writes in letter to “weary and listless” continent “possessed of little hope”
“Profits and profit alone do not give a future”, Francis also warns students and faculty of ‘Marianum’ Pontifical Theological Faculty: “Only gift, care and sharing keep the human family together”
Pope repeats plea “for a new and more inclusive socio-economic paradigm that reflects the truth that we are a single human family”
“God will ask an accounting of those who failed to seek peace, or who fomented tensions and conflicts”, Pope warns in “Spirit of Assisi” interfaith prayer meeting
“Love alone is the path towards full communion among us”, pontiff preaches in ecumenical prayer event in Rome
“We are all responsible” for the “disgrace” it is that so many of our brothers and sisters are going without food, denounces Francis
Francis sets out 7-point plan “to renew the fabric of relationships for the sake of a humanity capable of speaking the language of fraternity”
“The Earth must be worked and nursed, cultivated and protected. We cannot continue to squeeze it like an orange”, warns Pope
“We must promote the integration of women, especially where important decisions are made”, insists the pontiff
In a message October 7 to the Women’s Consultation Group of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Pope Francis praised the genius of “feminine insight” in the Church and the world, highlighting that “women have the gift of offering a wisdom that can heal, forgive, reinvent and renew”.
In a message to an online plenary meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis has urged that scientific and technological innovation be put at the service of more equality and social inclusion.