LIST: Pope Francis’ Most Notable Quotes

Pope Francis died today in Vatican at the age of 88 after battling months of ill health. According to a statement released by the Vatican, the pontiff rested at exactly 7:35am local time.

Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returning to the house of the father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God”-read a statement by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber at Casa Santa Marta

In this article, we bring you some of the notable quotes of Pope Francis. Who visited several countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America during his 11 year tenure as the Holy Father. Below are some of those quotes.

• I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.
• As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway… Here I am. I would like to thank you for your embrace.
• My people are poor, and I am one of them.
• We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind.
• A good political leader is one who, with the interests of all in mind, seizes the moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism. A good political leader always opts to initiate processes rather than possessing spaces.
• Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world. Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.
• A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms.
• The contemporary world, with its open wounds which affect so many of our brothers and sisters, demands that we confront every form of polarization which would divide it into these two camps.
• We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.

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