Let no one consider themselves to be the 'armour' of God while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression!

In this case [the Charlemagne Prize], I don't say (I was) forced, but convinced by the holy and theological headstrongness of Cardinal [Walter] Kasper, because he was chosen, elected by Aachen to convince me. And I said yes, but in the Vatican. And I said I offer it for Europe, as a co-decoration for Europe, a prize so that Europe may do what I desired at Strasburg; that it may no longer be "grandmother Europe" but "mother Europe."

Breathing is made up of two stages: inhaling, the intake of air, and exhaling, the letting out of air. The spiritual life is fed, nourished, by prayer and is expressed outwardly through mission: inhaling and exhaling. When we inhale, by prayer, we receive the fresh air of the Holy Spirit.

Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.

Being a Christian is not just about following commandments: it is about letting Christ take possession of our lives and transform them.

You may be poor yourselves in material ways, but you have an abundance of gifts to offer when you offer Christ and the community of his Church.

The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes.