It often happens that I wake at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.

The social progress, order, security, and peace of each country are necessarily linked with the social progress, order, security, and peace of every other country.

Men are like wine some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.

Never hesitate to hold out your hand; never hesitate to accept the outstretched hand of another.

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.

I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in.

If civil authorities legislate for or allow anything that is contrary to that order and therefore contrary to the will of God, neither the laws made or the authorizations granted can be binding on the consciences of the citizens, since God has more right to be obeyed than man.