We must learn from Mary, and we must imitate her unconditional readiness to receive Christ in her life.

To the criminals and all their accomplices, I, today, humbly and as a brother, repeat: convert yourselves to love and justice. It is possible to return to honesty. The tears of the mothers of Naples are asking this of you.

If a person has done wrong, is conscious of what he has done and does not say sorry, I ask God to take him into account. I forgive him, but he does not receive that forgiveness, he is closed to forgiveness. We must forgive, because we were all forgiven. It is another thing to receive that forgiveness.

In the face of life’s difficulties, let us ask the Lord for the strength to remain joyful witnesses to our faith.

Fasting makes sense if it really chips away at our security and, as a consequence, benefits someone else, if it helps us cultivate the style of the good Samaritan, who bent down to his brother in need and took care of him.

It's not a problem that we're sinners; it's a problem that we aren't ashamed of our sin and don't seek forgiveness.

Just as we need the courage to be happy, we also need the courage to live simply.