Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects, but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as 'unnecessary.' For example, it is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day; children being used as soldiers, abused and killed in armed conflicts; and children being bought and sold in that terrible form of modern slavery which is human trafficking, which is a crime against humanity.

Dear young people, Jesus wants to be your friend, and wants you to spread the joy of this friendship everywhere.

Dear young people, don't be afraid to marry. A faithful and fruitful marriage will bring you happiness.

Lord, help us to recognize you in the sick, poor and suffering.

Ask yourselves this question: How often is Jesus inside and knocking at the door to be let out, to come out?

I do not know what might be the most fitting description.... I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner. And this is what I said when they asked me if I would accept my election as pontiff: I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I accept in a spirit of penance.

Our mission as Christians is to conform ourselves evermore to Jesus as the model of our lives.