In the book-length interview, "El Sucesor" ("The Succesor"), published in Spain April 3, the pope said he "did not realize" that he was a serious candidate for the papacy in 2013, but that he began to put together the pieces of a
For the nearly 10 years that Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI lived on opposite sides of St. Peter's Basilica, the two popes' relationship was marked by a deep mutual respect and profound sense of solidarity, Pope Francis said.
The retired pope,
Pope Francis voted for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, in the 2005 conclave that followed the death of St. John Paul II.
"He was the only one who could be pope at that time," Pope Francis said about his immediate
Just as Jesus removed the stone that sealed his tomb on the morning of the Resurrection, on Easter Christ alone "has the power to roll away the stones that block the path to life" and which trap humanity in war and injustice,
Of the thousands of people packed into the Paul VI Audience Hall for Pope Francis' weekly general audience, two visitors received special praise from the pope for their unlikely friendship.
The presence of Bassam Aramin from Palestine and Rami Elhanan from Israel, seated
Contemplating Christ's passion should inspire Christians to be more patient in the face of their own suffering and trials, Pope Francis said.
"There is no better witness to the love of Christ than meeting a patient Christian," Pope Francis said during his general
The pope told employees of the Italian state broadcasting corporation, RAI, that their work should be "a response to the needs of citizens," and he encouraged them to serve the common good "with a spirit of universal openness."
The Catholic Church needs people and pastors capable of walking alongside refugees to respond to the reality of forced migration across the Americas, Pope Francis said.
Only by forming people "who dare to go beyond the limits of what is established" and are
"Family farmers are to be commended for the supportive way in which they work, as well as the for the respectful and gentle way in which they cultivate the land," the pope wrote in a March 19 message to a meeting of
Though the global situation risks plunging people into pessimism, Christians are called to pursue their vocation of becoming "men and women of hope," Pope Francis said.
"As individuals and as communities, amid the variety of charisms and ministries, all of us are called