I then greet and cordially thank you all, dear friends belonging to other religious traditions; first of all the Muslims, who worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer, and all of you. I really appreciate your presence: in it I see a tangible sign of the will to grow in mutual esteem and cooperation for the common good of humanity.

We have to state, without mincing words, that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them.

Children have a right to grow up in a family with a father and a mother.

The family is where we are formed as people. Every family is a brick in the building of society

The emptier a person's heart is, the more he or she needs to buy, own, and consume.

Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us. Sometimes after a meeting I want to arrange another one because new ideas are born and I discover new needs. This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.

I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.