¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 1: 15

Hülsparkstadion, Kevelaer, Germany - Samstag, 2. Mai 1987

The natural centers of world and salvation history are not the bustling capitals of politics and economy, money and earthly power.

The true centers of history are the silent places of prayer of the people.

Here, the encounter between the earthly world and the supernatural world takes place in a particularly dense way: the pilgrim Church on earth with the eternal and victorious Church in heaven.

Bigger things are happening here, and more decisive for life and death, than in the big capitals, where you think you have your finger on the pulse and turn the wheel of world history.

Excerpted and Translated from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Journey to the Federal Republic of Germany
Lauds and Homily at Hülsparkstadion

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¹⁷ May the favor^[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17 (New International Version)

Sydney, Australia – 26 November 1986

There’s no quick fix for all the challenges of human labor, but I’d like to share two fundamental principles to consider.

First, it’s important to remember that the ultimate goal of work is always the human being. Work exists to serve people, not the other way around, and it’s worth emphasizing this point again and again. The value of work should always be measured by how well it benefits humanity, and solutions to social issues should prioritize the human person over material concerns.

Second, addressing these problems isn’t the responsibility of just one group. We can’t rely only on governments, big businesses, small enterprises, union leaders, or individual workers to solve everything. Instead, everyone has a part to play — all individuals and groups need to be involved in understanding the issues and working together to find solutions.

My dear friends, let’s remember that work isn’t just about transactions, managing schedules, or producing goods. It’s a space to reveal the mystery entrusted to us by the Creator. Work isn’t about disappearing into progress but about growing, serving, loving, and creating a more human and compassionate world.

We must boldly state: the economy, technology, institutions, markets, policies, and systems exist for the person. Reversing this order treats humans as mere instruments, costing society its core. Labor dignity isn’t just about better methods but a vision shift — seeing every worker as a face, story, family, hope, and destiny.

No one can escape this duty, friends. Justice isn’t the responsibility of just one office, class, leader, or institution. Governments must serve the common good with wisdom and firmness. Employers should see that profit is morally judged by the dignity of workers. Unions must advocate for workers while staying united with the community. Workers need honesty, creativity, and responsibility. Families, schools, churches, and communities must foster consciences that prioritize the human person over selfish gains.

Let us not be afraid, then, to build together.

Let us not be afraid to ask what kind of society we are shaping by the way we work, hire, pay, produce, consume, and rest.

The question of labor transcends economics, reflecting our spirit, morals, and humanity. It urges us to view each other as brothers and sisters on a shared journey, not as marketplace competitors.

When work is driven by love, it shifts from necessity to a graceful act of teamwork, becoming a daily heartfelt bridge to a civilization that truly honors the human spirit.

Excerpted from the writings of John Paul II
Address to the Workers in the Factory "Transfield Limited"
Sydney, Australia

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A song of ascents.

¹ When the Lord restored the fortunes of^[a] Zion,
We were like those who dreamed.

Psalm 126: 1

Torino, Italy, 13 April 1980

We live in an age of tremendous material progress, but it is also a time of unprecedented denial of God. Humankind allows God to “die” in himself and others. Entire philosophical systems and social, economic, and political programs serve this purpose.

Why is humanity afraid?

Perhaps precisely because, as a result of that denial of God, one ultimately remains alone: ​​metaphysically alone, inwardly alone.

Why fear?

If humankind lets God die, he may also lose the solid inhibition to kill another.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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Editor’s Note

Zion’s meaning extends beyond a single entity, simply meaning ‘fortification’ and serving as the seat of power for both the ancient Kingdom of Israel and the [Spiritual] Kingdom of God.

· It also refers to Jerusalem, the ‘City of David,’ often overshadowed by its title as ‘the City of God.”

· Isaiah 52:1-2 calls it the “City of God,” where God’s people become the “Light among nations.”

· Jeremiah 31:6 says, “Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.” Mount Zion symbolizes the spiritual Kingdom of God, as Hebrews 12:22 states: “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” — the New Jerusalem that will descend from heaven (Revelation 21:10-26), representing a ‘heaven on earth.’

van Kempen, Abraham A. Christian Zionism ... Enraptured Around a Golden Calf - 2nd Edition: Evangelicals Rediscovering New Testament Revelations (p. 16). (Function). Kindle Edition.

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²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;

Numbers 6: 25 (New International Version)

The Vatican – 11 October 1998

Because she was Jewish, Edith Stein was taken, along with her sister Rosa and many other Catholic Jews from the Netherlands, to the Auschwitz concentration camp ...

Today we remember them all with deep respect.

For the love of God and humanity, once again I raise an anguished cry:

May such criminal deeds never be repeated against any ethnic group or race in any corner of this world! It is a cry to everyone: to all people of goodwill; to all who believe in the Just and Eternal God.

We must all stand together: human dignity is at stake.

There is only one human family.

Our recently canonized saint, Edith Stein, lived in faith and hope:

“Our love for our neighbor mirrors our love for God.

No one is a ‘stranger.’

The love of Christ goes beyond borders.”

Edith Stein was caught by this fire. She devoted herself to freedom. Edith Stein was a seeker. Her mind never tired of searching and her heart always yearned for hope. Eventually she was rewarded: she seized the truth. Or better: she was seized by it. ...

She wrote to a Benedictine nun:

“Whoever seeks the truth is seeking God, whether consciously or unconsciously.”

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
Surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Psalm 32:10 (New International Version – NIV)

Saint Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican, 30 December 1987

It is timely to mention - with no exaggeration – that a leadership role among nations can only be justified by the possibility and willingness to contribute widely and generously to the common good.

If a nation were to succumb more or less deliberately to the temptation to close in upon itself and fail to meet the responsibilities following from its superior position in the community of nations, it would fall seriously short of its clear ethical duty. This is readily apparent in the circumstances of history, where believers discern the dispositions of Divine Providence, ready to use the nations to realize its plans to render “vain the designs of the peoples” (cf. Psalm 33: 10).

When the West gives the impression of abandoning itself to forms of growing and selfish isolation, the East, in its turn, seems to ignore, for questionable reasons, its duty to cooperate in alleviating human misery.

We are up against not only a betrayal of humanity’s legitimate expectations - a betrayal that is a harbinger of unforeseeable consequences - but also an absolute desertion of a moral obligation.

24. If arms production is a severe disorder in the present world concerning actual human needs and the employment of the means capable of satisfying those needs, the arms trade is equally to blame.

Indeed, regarding the latter, it must be added that moral judgment is even more severe. As we all know, this is a trade without frontiers capable of crossing even the barriers of the blocs.

It knows how to overcome the division between East and West. Above all, the one between North and South pushes its way into the different sections of the southern hemisphere.

We are thus confronted with a strange phenomenon: while economic aid and development plans meet with the obstacle of insuperable ideological barriers and with tariff and trade barriers, arms of whatever origin circulate with almost total freedom worldwide.

And as the recent document of the Pontifical Commission Iustitia et Pax on international debt points out, ⁴² everyone knows that in some instances, the capital lent by the developed world has been used in the underdeveloped world to buy weapons.

If to all this, we add the tremendous and universally acknowledged danger represented by atomic weapons stockpiled on an incredible scale. The logical conclusion seems to be this: in today’s world, including the world of economics, the prevailing picture is one destined to lead us more quickly towards death rather than one of concern for actual development which would lead all towards a “more human” life, as envisaged by the Encyclical Populorum Progressio.⁴³

The consequences of this state of affairs fester a wound that typifies and reveals the imbalances and conflicts of the modern world.

The millions of refugees who have war, natural calamities, persecution, and discrimination have been deprived of home, employment, family, and homeland.

The tragedy of these multitudes is reflected in the hopeless faces of men, women, and children who can no longer find a home in a divided and inhospitable world.

Nor may we close our eyes to another painful wound in today’s world: the phenomenon of terrorism, understood as the intention to kill people and destroy property indiscriminately and to create a climate of terror and insecurity, often including the taking of hostages.

Even when some ideology or the desire to create a better society is adduced as the motivation for this inhuman behavior, acts of terrorism are never justifiable. Even less so when, as happens today, such decisions and actions, which sometimes lead to real massacres, and to the abduction of innocent people who have nothing to do with the conflicts, claim to have a propaganda purpose for furthering a cause.

It is still worse when they are an end in themselves so that murder is committed merely for the sake of killing. In the face of such horror and suffering, the words I spoke some years ago are still valid, and I wish to repeat them:

“What Christianity forbids is to seek solutions...by the ways of hatred, by the murdering of defenseless people, by the methods of terrorism.” ⁴⁴

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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⁴ He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

Isaiah 2:4 (New International Version)

Hiroshima, Wednesday, February 25, 1981

War is the work of man. War is the destruction of human life. War is death.

Nowhere do these truths impose themselves on us more forcefully than in this city of Hiroshima, at this Peace Memorial. Two cities will forever have their names joined together, two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as the only cities in the world that have had the misfortune of standing as a warning that man is capable of destruction beyond belief. Their names will always remain the names of the only cities of our time singled out as a warning to future generations that war can destroy humanity’s efforts to build a world of peace.

Mr. Mayor, dear friends present here, and all who hear my voice and whom my message will reach:

1. I have come here today with deep emotion as a pilgrim of peace. I have wished to make this visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial out of the profound personal conviction that to remember the past is to commit oneself to the future.

Together we remember that it is one of humanity’s sad achievements that across the face of the earth the names of so many—too many—places are remembered chiefly because they have witnessed the horror and suffering produced by war: war memorials that, while commemorating the victory of one side, also recall the suffering and death of countless human beings; cemeteries where those who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country or of a noble cause rest, and cemeteries where the innocent civilian victims of war’s destructive fury lie; the memories of concentration and extermination camps, where contempt for man and his inviolable rights reached its lowest and cruelest expression; battlefields where nature has mercifully healed the scars of the earth, yet without being able to erase the human history of a past of hatred and enmity. Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand out above all other places and monuments as the first victims of nuclear war.

I bow my head as I recall the thousands of men, women, and children who lost their lives in that terrible moment, or who for many years carried in their bodies and minds those seeds of death that inexorably continued their process of destruction. The final toll of human suffering that began here has not been fully assessed, nor has the total human cost been calculated, especially when we consider what nuclear war has produced—and may still produce—in our ideas, our attitudes, and our civilization.

2. To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future. I cannot but honor and applaud the wise decision of the authorities of this city that the memorial of the first nuclear bomb should be a monument to peace. In doing so, the city of Hiroshima and all the people of Japan have powerfully expressed their hope for a peaceful world and their conviction that the man who makes war can also successfully build peace. From this city, and from the events its name recalls, there has arisen a new world consciousness against war, and a vigorous determination to work for peace.

Some people, even among those who were alive at the time of the events we remember today, might prefer not to think about the horror of nuclear war and its dreadful consequences. Among those who have never personally experienced the reality of armed conflict between nations, some would like to dismiss the real possibility of nuclear war. Others would wish to regard nuclear capability as an unavoidable instrument for maintaining a balance of power through a balance of terror. But there is no justification for not raising the question of the responsibility of every nation and every individual in the face of possible wars and the nuclear threat.

3. To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future. I call before you the memory of August 6, 1945, so that we may better understand the meaning of the present challenge. Since that fateful day, nuclear arsenals have increased in quantity and destructive power. The manufacture, testing, and deployment of nuclear weapons continue. It is impossible to predict the full consequences of a large-scale nuclear war; but even if only a portion of the available weapons were used, we must ask ourselves whether we are truly aware of the spiral this could unleash and whether the sheer and simple destruction of humanity is not a real possibility. I therefore wish to repeat here what I said before the General Assembly of the United Nations: “The continued preparations for war, as proved by the production of ever more numerous, more powerful, and more sophisticated weapons in several countries, testify that there is a desire to be prepared for war, and to be prepared means being in a position to provoke it. It also means running the risk that at any moment, in any place, in any way, the terrible mechanism of general destruction may be set in motion” (Address to the United Nations General Assembly, October 2, 1979, no. 10; L’Osservatore Romano, Spanish-language edition, October 14, 1979, p. 13).

4. To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future. To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war. To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to peace. To remember that the people of this city have suffered is to renew our faith in man, in his capacity to do good, in his freedom to choose what is right, in his determination to turn disaster into a new beginning. In the face of the calamity for humanity that every war represents, it must be affirmed and reaffirmed, again and again, that making war is not inevitable or unchangeable. Humanity is not destined for self-destruction. Clashes between ideologies, aspirations, and needs can and must be regulated and resolved by means other than war and violence. Humanity is obliged to resolve differences and conflicts by peaceful means. The broad range of problems that place many peoples at different stages of cultural, social, and economic development gives rise to international tension and conflict. It is vital for humanity that these problems be solved according to the ethical principles of equity and justice, safeguarded by major agreements and institutions. The international community should thus provide itself with a system of laws to regulate international relations and maintain peace, just as legal norms protect national order.

5. Those who value life on earth must encourage governments and decision-makers in the economic and social fields to act in harmony with the demands of peace, rather than with narrow individual interest. Peace must always be the goal: peace pursued and protected in every circumstance. Let us not repeat the past, a past of violence and destruction. Let us embark on the arduous and difficult path of peace, the only path suited to human dignity, the only path that leads to the true fulfillment of human destiny, the only path toward a future in which equity, justice, and solidarity are realities and not merely distant dreams.

6. And so, in this place where, 35 years ago, the lives of so many people were extinguished in a searing instant, I wish to make an appeal to the whole world in the name of life, in the name of humanity, in the name of the future:

To Heads of State and Government, who hold political and economic power, I say: Let us commit ourselves to peace through justice; let us make a solemn decision from this moment onward that war will never be tolerated or sought as a means of resolving differences; let us promise our fellow human beings that we will work tirelessly for disarmament and the outlawing of nuclear weapons; let us replace violence and hatred with trust and respect.

To all men and women of this country and of the world, I say: Let us assume responsibility for one another and for the future, without the limitations of borders or social distinctions; let us educate ourselves and others in the ways of peace; may humanity never become the victim of a struggle between competing systems; may there never be another war.

To young people everywhere, I say: Unite to create a new future of fraternity and solidarity; attend to our brothers and sisters in need, feed the hungry, welcome those who have no home, bring freedom to the oppressed, bring justice where injustice reigns and peace where only weapons speak. Your young hearts have an extraordinary capacity for goodness and love: place them at the service of your fellow human beings.

To everyone I repeat the words of the Prophet: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

To those who believe in God, I say: let us be strong in His strength, which infinitely surpasses us; let us unite, knowing that He calls us to unity; let us be aware that loving and sharing are not distant ideals, but the path of lasting peace, the peace of God.

7. And to the Creator of nature and of man, of truth and of beauty, I pray:

Hear my voice, for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and of violence between individuals and nations.

Hear my voice, for it is the voice of all children who suffer and will suffer when people place their trust in weapons and war.

Hear my voice as I beg You to instill in the hearts of all people the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice, and the joy of fraternity.

Hear my voice, for I speak for the multitudes of all countries and all periods of history who do not want war and are prepared to walk the paths of peace.

Hear my voice and grant us discernment and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need by sharing what is our own, to war with peace.

O God! Hear my voice and grant throughout the whole world Your eternal peace.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (New International Version)

Unity is a great gift, a gift that we bear in fragile and breakable vessels of clay.

At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for his disciples

“that they all might be one as you Father are in me and I in you“ (John 17: 20-21).

Unity is the “treasure” he gave them, embodying two qualities: fidelity to the Gospel and belief that he is sent by the Father, as the Lord indicated.

Many Christian denominations claim to be the true inheritance of Jesus Christ. Though all see themselves as His followers, their beliefs often conflict, creating diverging paths as if Christ were divided among them.

We must sincerely pursue this evangelical duty. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds us and offers a chance to pray together—within our Churches or with Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants. Our hope is to pray with one voice and heart for unity.

St. Paul describes the apostolic ministry as having a ‘treasure in vessels of clay‘ (II Corinthians 4:7), emphasizing that its purpose is to reveal the glory of the Gospel to humanity. He clarifies that they do not focus on preaching themselves but on Christ Jesus the Lord, and that their role is to serve for the sake of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Yes, unity depends on “vessels of clay” that are fragile and need careful handling. Christians must foster love that overcomes differences through persistent prayer, dialogue, and sincere cooperation to help the poor and vulnerable.

“Holy Father, despite our weakness, you have made us witnesses of hope and faithful disciples of your Son. We carry this treasure in vessels of clay, and we fear we may fail in the face of suffering and evil.”

At times, we even doubt the power of the word of Jesus, who said, “that they all may be one.”

Give us again the experience of the glory that shines on the face of Christ, so that in all our actions, our dedication, and our lives we may proclaim to the world that He is alive and at work among us.

Amen.”

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
General Audience
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Vatican — Wednesday, 22 January 2003

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¹¹ Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11 (New International Version)

The Vatican – 30 December 1988

A human being is not a mere ‘thing’ or ‘object’ that can be exploited.

Instead, it is inherently a ‘subject’ with consciousness and free will, called to live responsibly within society and history, and guided by spiritual and religious values.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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“Who is my neighbor?“

Luke 10: 29

Saint Peter’s Basilica, 11 February 1984

A Good Samaritan is a person who gives the gift of self.

Three travelers along the road from Jerusalem to Jericho saw a half-dead man who had been stripped and beaten by robbers. The Samaritan showed himself to be the authentic “neighbor” of the victim. “Neighbor” also means the person who carried out the commandment of love of neighbor.

Two other men passed along the same road; one was a priest and the other a Levite, but each “saw him and passed by on the other side.” The Samaritan, on the other hand, “saw him and had compassion on him. He went to him, … and bound up his wounds “, then “brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10: 33-34).

And when he left, he solicitously entrusted the suffering man to the innkeeper’s care, promising to meet any expenses.

The parable of the Good Samaritan indicates what the relationship of each of us must be towards our suffering neighbor. We are not allowed to “pass by on the other side” indifferently; we must “stop” beside him.

Everyone who stops beside another person’s suffering, whatever form it may take, is a Good Samaritan.

This stopping does not mean curiosity but availability.

It is like opening a particular interior disposition of the heart.

The name “Good Samaritan” fits every individual who is sensitive to the sufferings and misfortunes of others.

If Christ, who knows man’s interior, emphasizes this compassion, it is vital for our whole attitude to others’ suffering. Therefore one must cultivate this sensitivity of heart, which bears witness to compassion towards a suffering person. Sometimes this compassion remains the only or principal expression of our love for and solidarity with the sufferer.

Nevertheless, the Good Samaritan of Christ’s parable does not stop at sympathy and compassion alone. They become, for him, an incentive to actions aimed at bringing help to the injured man. In a word, then, a Good Samaritan gets help in suffering, whatever its nature may be. Service which is, as far as possible, effective. He puts his whole heart into it, nor does he spare material means.

He gives himself his very “I,” opening this “I” to the other person. Here we touch upon one of the critical points of all Christian anthropology. Man cannot “fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.”

A Good Samaritan is a person who gives the gift of self.

Excerpted from the writings of Saint Pope John Paul II

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¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version)

Luanda, Angola — 7 June 1992

Dear young people of Angola, I speak to you with affection, confidence, and great hope. Christ knows you. He sees your questions, your struggles, your friendships, your dreams, and the fire already burning in your hearts. He says to each one of you: do not be afraid. Your life is a gift. Your voice is needed. Your country is waiting for your courage.

You carry in your hearts the desire for a better future. Do not let that desire grow small. Guard it. Strengthen it. Turn it into action. But remember this: no one builds a strong future by cutting away the past. Listen to your parents, teachers, elders, and grandparents. They have walked roads you have not yet walked. They have suffered, worked, prayed, and hoped so that you could stand taller. Their wisdom is not a chain; it is a light. Let your roots help you rise.

You ask how Angola can become stronger. The Church does not give you an easy shortcut. The Church reminds you that every person has dignity, because every person is created by God and loved by Him. From this truth come the values that can lift a nation: respect for life, care for the poor, justice, honesty, forgiveness, solidarity, and peace.

So I say to you: study this teaching. Let it form your conscience, guide your choices, and awaken your courage. Use your energy for what is true, good, and noble.

Do not waste your youth on hatred, revenge, or selfishness.

Build with love. Serve with joy. Speak the truth. Lift up the poor. Protect the weak.

Forgive one another. Do not turn your differences into walls; make them bridges.

Angola will grow when young people choose unity over division, service over comfort, and hope over fear.

May the Lord bless your dreams, your friendships, and the brave decisions you make each day.

May He give you hearts that do not give up, hands ready to serve, and voices strong enough to defend truth and peace.

May He walk beside you and keep your hope alive.

And may God bless the young people of Angola, your families, your communities, and the future you are building together. Amen.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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⁶ … and the government will be on his shoulders.

Isaiah 9: 6 (New International Version NIV)

Ayacucho, Peru 3 February 1985

I now want to direct an emphatic word to those who have put their trust in armed combat.

Mistaken ideologies mislead humanity.

Terror and aggressiveness exacerbate the pitiable social tensions and violently provoke fierce confrontations.

Evil is never a path to good.

Focus on doing good and building a better world fit for all.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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⁴ In that day you will say:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.”

Isaiah 12:4 (New International Version)

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, The Abbey of Echternach, Thursday, May 16, 1985

You matter.
You are not just one face in a crowd.
God sees you, knows you, and calls you by name.

Faith is not something to keep locked inside. We are called to move, to reach out, to build bridges, and to bring hope where it is needed.

By doing so, you pave the way for a Europe rooted in faith, dialogue, sharing, and responsibility for humanity.

• Choosing trust, solidarity, and freedom means embracing life: loving God, hearing His voice, and staying committed.

• Trust requires honesty, loyalty, keeping your word, and respect for dignity.

• Solidarity goes beyond fair exchange, rooted in love, promoting forgiveness and service.

God’s law awakens, not suppresses, freedom.

• It shapes conscience, freeing individuals from bonds and guiding them toward good.

• Because God is love, love is the source and truth of every true value. Faith confidently rests in God’s faithfulness.

• The truth will set us free, and the Spirit will guide us to full freedom.

Bring your real life to God: your questions, doubts, worries, dreams, and hopes. God does not ask for a perfect version of you. He wants the real you.

• A future worth creating should be grounded in enduring values ... and your willingness to assume responsibility.

• Your vision of a better world depends on your attitude, conscience, and dedication. The future is shaped by your current decisions.

• Through your play, songs, and words, you show a wish to help build a better world—promoting friendship across borders and embodying Pax Christi.

True freedom isn’t about lacking bonds but about serving God, the poor, and the oppressed.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Pastoral Visit to the Netherlands
Meeting with Young People of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

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“… Listen to him!”

Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; Matthew 3:17 (New International Version)

Les Combes, Valle d’Aosta, Italy, 11 July 2004

I greet with affection all of you who have come to Les Combes to share with me in our regular Sunday gathering at the Angelus. I warmly thank the Mayor of Introd and those who work with him for their courteous welcome. Thank you, regional and provincial authorities. My collaborators and I enjoy a peaceful stay among the charming mountains of the Valle d’Aosta.

In this calm oasis, before the beautiful display of nature, it is easy to feel the benefits of silence, a quality that is becoming rarer and rarer today.

The many opportunities modern society affords for relations and information sometimes risk leaving no room for recollection, even jeopardizing a person’s ability to reflect and pray.

It is only in silence that human beings can hear in their innermost being the voice of God which truly sets them free. And holidays can help people rediscover and cultivate this indispensable inner dimension of human life.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II

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“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…”

Psalm 33:12 (New International Version)

Korazim, Mount of the Beatitudes, Friday, 24 March 2000

Entering a new day, a new year, and a new century, the 21st century, the Third Millennium offers a chance to share the enduring wisdom of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, inspiring messages of truth, goodness, grace, and freedom.

Wisdom is timeless

1. For generations, the Sermon on the Mount has inspired young hearts with Christ’s personality and message.

2. The first to hear the Beatitudes carried the memory of Mount Sinai, where God spoke to Moses and gave the Law, - The Ten Commandments – “written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18).

Together, Sinai and the Mount of the Beatitudes offer the roadmap of Christian life: guide us from evil to love: loving God fully and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37, 39).

Jesus Honors Those the World Considers Weak.

3. Jesus says, “Blessed are you!” All who are poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, mourn, seek righteousness, are pure in heart, make peace, and are persecuted.

He assures losers that they’re the real winners, for “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Spoken by the one who is “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29), it calls for a profound metanoia—a change of heart.

Why Do You Need This Change of Heart – Metanoia?

An inner voice and external influences suggest that the proud, violent, pitiless, and cunning always win. You know better!

Choosing the Voice of Christ

4. Jesus calls you to choose between good and evil, life or death. Faith in Jesus means trusting his words, even when they seem strange, and rejecting evil, no matter its appeal.

Jesus does not merely speak the Beatitudes; he lives them.

Trust in Him: “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Now it is Your Turn

5. Young people of the Holy Land and the world. Open your hearts!

...

“Lord Jesus Christ, in this sacred place you knew well, kindly listen to these young hearts. Enlighten their minds and transform them into joyful witnesses. Stay with them always, especially in tough times. Be their strength and guiding victory.

You made these young people Your friends.

Amen.”

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Jubilee Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (March 20–26, 2000)
Homily at the Mount of the Beatitudes
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²⁵ and He did not need anyone to testify concerning man [and human nature], for He Himself knew what was in man [in their hearts—in the very core of their being].

John 2: 25 (Amplified Bible)

Luanda (Angola) – 7 June 1992

Young people of Angola: dedicate your life to worthy and just causes!

Build a homeland that rests on authentic human and Christian values so that the world of tomorrow does not accuse you of having left it a land devoid of ideals and alienated by pseudo-values.

Build something that has value!

Be a united people, build a single nation in which everyone can consider themselves brothers.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Journey to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe
Address to Young People at the Pavilhão Principal da Cidadela

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"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"

Genesis 1:1

The Vatican – 19 November 1997

The future of humanity is, first of all, God’s future, in the sense that he alone knows it, prepares it, and brings it about. Of course, he calls for and invites human co-operation, but he never ceases to be the transcendent “director” of history.

The journey to the Jubilee is a journey of hope.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
General Audience
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The Vatican, 24 January 2001 | If we cast a glance at the world and its history, at first sight the banner of war, violence, oppression, injustice and moral decay seems to predominate. It seems, as in the vision of chapter 6 of Revelation, that horsemen are riding through the barren lands of the earth, bearing now the crown of victorious power, now the sword of violence, now the scales of poverty and famine, now death’s sharp sickle (Revelation 6: 1-8).

A continuous effort of conversion is needed to straighten humanity’s course, so that it may freely choose to follow “God’s art”, that is, his plan of peace and love, of truth and justice.

With faith the Holy Spirit also plants the seed of hope in the human heart. Against a horizon that is often marked by discouragement, pessimism, choices of death, inertia and superficiality, Christians must be open to the hope that springs from faith. “Master, Master, we are perishing!”, the disciples cry. And Christ asks them: “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8: 24-25). With faith in Christ and in the kingdom of God we are never lost, and the hope of tranquil calm reappears on the horizon.

A French poet wrote: “Hope is the anxious waiting of the good sower; it is the longing of those who are candidates for heaven. Hope is the infinity of love” (Charles Péguy, Le porche du mystère de la deuxième vertu).

At the start of this Audience we heard the Apostle John’s message to fathers and sons, to the elders and the young, that they should continue to struggle and hope together, in the certainty that evil and the devil can be overcome through the heavenly Father’s effective presence. To restore hope is a fundamental task of the Church.

I would like to suggest to you once again the appeal to trust which I addressed to the United Nations Organization in 1995:

“We must not be afraid of the future... We have within us the capacities for wisdom and virtue. With these gifts, and with the help of God’s grace, we can build in the next century and the next millennium a civilization worthy of the human person, a true culture of freedom. We can and must do so! And in doing so, we shall see that the tears of this century have prepared the ground for a new springtime of the human spirit”

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
General Audience
The Vatican — Wednesday, 24 January 2001

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²¹ That they may be one ...

John 17:21-23 (The Message Translation)

Munich, Germany – 19 November 1980

Yes, this is what is at stake:

To give the life and solidarity of Europe’s peoples and nations a new foundation, healing the wounds left by the terrible experiences of our century.

Christ’s love is stronger.

In this light, building a better future is not only possible; it is a solemn duty and one of the urgent tasks of our time.

That future is the one for which the Lord prayed: Father, I ask you that “They may all be one.” From this prayer come renewed life, responsibility, and longing for communion.

I desire to serve this unity and to follow every path that leads toward the flock of the one Good Shepherd.

As I depart, I sincerely bless all the people of Germany: those within your borders, your German brothers and sisters abroad, and those who carry your heritage worldwide.

Though much time has passed since the war-torn Europe, the call to build a world that values the human spirit remains strong. This longing becomes a personal duty, inspiring us to become more fully human and find our best selves.

I would be grateful if this wish finds a place in your hearts and community. As heirs of rich culture and history, I hope you become pioneers of a civilization of love—helping make the world a more beautiful and compassionate place for all.

May this symbolize the future’s response to past suffering. I offer hope to all of Europe, where your nation plays an important role: may love’s civilization become reality across the continent.

Such a civilization meets core human needs, especially the social desire for community. It encourages Europe to act as a true family of nations, where each nation—regardless of size—is respected for its history, identity, culture, and self-determination, and has a duty to defend others’ rights.

Europe’s future should be guided by the civilization of love, not power, dominance, or self-interest. This vision allows nations to express their identities and protects all from war and destruction.

Love nurtures freedom and respect, encouraging us to stand together with kindness. It seeks a world free from exploitation, oppression, and selfishness, where all can flourish with dignity.

May Almighty God bless Germany and its people! May God also bless Europe and the future she holds.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Address at the Departure from Germany
Munich, Germany — 19 November 1980

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¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

(Luke 2: 14 NIV)

The Vatican, December 1999 | It is encouraging that, despite obstacles, peace initiatives continue to emerge daily through the cooperation of many people. Peace is a continuous construction involving:

- Parents who serve as examples of peace and educate children for peace;

- Teachers who can convey authentic values and humanity’s cultural heritage;

- Working men and women dedicated to advancing their longstanding fight for the dignity of work into current global issues that demand justice and solidarity;

- Political leaders who prioritize a strong and resolute commitment to promoting peace and justice in their political efforts and national agendas;

- Those in International Organizations often work with limited resources on the front lines as “peace-makers,” risking their safety.

- Members of NGOs worldwide, working in various contexts, are committed to preventing and resolving conflicts through research and action.

- Believers who think true faith avoids war promote peace through ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

I especially think of you, young people, blessed to experience life uniquely and responsible for not wasting it. In schools, universities, workplaces, leisure, and sports, let this be your guide: seek peace within, keep peace around you, and strive for peace at all times, with everyone, for the good of all.

To young people affected by war with feelings of hatred, I urge you to pursue reconciliation and forgiveness. Though difficult, it’s the only way to face the future with hope—for yourselves, your children, your countries, and humanity.

In his final public speech, Pope John XXIII called on ‘men of goodwill’ to pursue peace through ‘the Gospel of obedience to God, mercy, and forgiveness.’ He added:

“... without a doubt, the bright torch of peace will run its course, igniting the joy and pouring light and grace into the hearts of people throughout the world, helping them to discover beyond all frontiers the faces of brothers and sisters, the faces of friends.”

May you, young people of the Year 2000, recognize in others and assist them in seeing the faces of brothers and sisters, the faces of friends!

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace
The Vatican — 1 January 2000

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¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)

Adolfo López Mateos Hall of the Presidential Residence, Mexico City, Mexico – 23 January 1999 | America is a continent of diverse nations, from advanced to less developed. Even within countries like Mexico, social conditions vary. It’s vital to respect these differences and promote dialogue and cooperation.

America is a vast, diverse continent with a rich history, stretching from the North Pole to the South Pole. Its origins include civilizations such as the Maya, Olmec, Aztec, and Inca. Interactions with the Old World and Christianity helped shape a shared identity. America excels at fostering values that motivate and influence people, especially in key roles globally.

Imagine a future called the “Continent of Hope,” where communities and leaders share values. The Church and other religious groups in America can help build this moral foundation—by encouraging independent, ethical thinking beyond popular opinion. Clear principles like “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not lie,” “Thou shalt not steal or envy,” and respecting everyone’s dignity are key. These sacred values, rooted in the Decalogue – the Ten Commandments – and cherished across faiths, promote universal care and shape societies.

These principles should serve as a compassionate shield, protecting every life stage from start to finish. This includes opposing aggressive wars, destructive weapons, and corruption that harms society beyond borders. It also involves resisting unlawful intrusion into privacy, such as forced sterilization or laws threatening free living. We must oppose deceptive advertising, challenge monopolies that hinder progress, and prevent drug abuse from harming youth.

Significant progress has been made, with international conventions working to curb abuses. Countries collaborate to establish zones where activities are regulated and protected by principles that promote fairness and safeguard the rights of individuals, communities, and cultures.

Much work remains ahead. As we near the end of a century and a millennium marked by remarkable scientific and technological progress, we are also reminded of the visible scars these advances often leave—sometimes painfully—showing where we’ve fallen short in upholding our core moral values. Instead of neglecting these principles again, we should focus on strengthening their ethical and moral authority to guide us toward a better future.

Sharing these thoughts, I am inspired to defend human dignity, guided by God’s divine Word.

Excerpted from the writings of Pope John Paul II
Pastoral Visit to America
Address to the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to Mexico
Adolfo López Mateos Hall, Presidential Residence, Mexico City, Mexico — Saturday, 23 January 1999