I don't know how things stand in the thinking of the Italian parliament. The Pope doesn't get mixed up in Italian politics.

Consumerism has brought us anxiety. Set aside time to play with your children, and turn off the TV when they sit down to eat.

The worldwide financial and economic crisis seems to highlight their distortions and above all the gravely deficient human perspective, which reduces man to one of his needs alone, namely, consumption. Worse yet, human beings themselves are nowadays considered as consumer goods which can be used and thrown away.

If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life. It will be a demanding life, but full of joy.

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

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."

We need to build up society in the light of the Beatitudes, walking towards the Kingdom with the least among us.