Let us pray for peace in Africa, especially in the Central African Republic and in South Sudan.

Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.

I entered the diocesan seminary. I liked the Dominicans, and I had Dominican friends. But then I chose the Society of Jesus, which I knew well because the seminary was entrusted to the Jesuits. Three things in particular struck me about the Society: the missionary spirit, community and discipline.

In effect, a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and the disadvantaged.

Politics is the most important of the civil activities and has its own field of action, which is not that of religion.

To celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation means to be wrapped in a warm embrace.

It is necessary to reaffirm our solid opposition to any direct offense against life, especially when innocent and defenseless, and the unborn child in its mother's womb is the quintessence of innocence. Let us remember the words of Vatican Council II: 'Therefore from the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes.'