Anybody can be Pope; the proof of this is that I have become one.

Mankind is a great, an immense family... This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.

Italians come to ruin most generally in three ways, women, gambling, and farming. My family chose the slowest one.

Every time I hear anyone speak of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or of the Blessed Sacrament I feel an indescribable joy. It is as if a wave of precious memories, sweet affections and joyful hopes swept over my poor person, making me tremble with happiness and filling my soul with tenderness.

The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms, but in mutual trust alone.

It often happens that I wake up at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.

The mark of Cain is stamped upon our foreheads. Across the centuries, our brother Abel was lain in blood which we drew, and shed tears we caused by forgetting Thy love. Forgive us, Lord, for the curse we falsely attributed to their name as Jews. Forgive us for crucifying Thee a second time in their flesh. For we knew not what we did.