Pope Francis Celebrates His 10th Year: Here Are Some Of His Best Quotes On Family And Children

Pope Francis, the first pope to come from the Southern hemisphere (Buenos Aires, Argentina), celebrates his 10 years as a pope this March 2023. 

He became a pope after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 and has been known to have a ‘less formal approach’ on the papacy than his predecessors. For instance, he chose to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by the previous popes. 

He is also known to express his views on certain controversial issues like LGBT, divorce, poverty, refugees and global warming. 

Pope Francis, when asked whether gays and lesbians could be good Christians, said, "Who am I to judge? They shouldn't be marginalized. The tendency (to be homosexual) is not the problem. They are our brothers."

His recent ‘controversial’ comment is about the Catholic priests’ celibacy, “Yes, yes. In fact, everyone in the Eastern Church is married. Or those who want to. There they make a choice. Before ordination there is the choice to marry or to be celibate.”

On his 10th anniversary mass, he launched the first ever podcast by the Vatican. “What’s a podcast?” he asked and when explained to him, he gladly said, “Nice, let’s do it.” The Pope also has an official social media account on Twitter, with username Pontifex.

“Please”, “thank you”, and “sorry” are “words that open up the road to a good family life.” -Pope Francis

To celebrate his 10 years as a pope, Smart Parenting collected some of Pope Francis’ most heartwarming and inspiring messages and quotes.

Best Pope Francis quotes on children, family, faith and education

1. About family

“The family is important, and it is necessary for the survival of humanity. Without the family, the cultural survival of the human race would be at risk. The family, whether we like it or not, is the foundation.” (Radio Interview, Brazil, July 27, 2013)

“All families need God. Every single one. We need His help, His strength, His blessing.”

“How precious is the family, as the privileged place for transmitting the faith.”

“Please”, “thank you”, and “sorry” are “words that open up the road to a good family life.”

“But the most beautiful thing God made-so the Bible tells us-is the family. He created man and woman. And He gave them everything. He entrusted the world to them: “Grow, multiply, cultivate the earth, make it bear fruit, let it grow.” All the love He put into that marvelous creation, He entrusted to a family.”

RELATED: Pope Francis Advises Parents to Ban Phones from the Dinner Table

2. About spending time with children

“And tell me, do you play with your children? Do you waste time with your children? The free gift of a parents’ time is so important.”

3. About difficulties as a family

“In families, we argue; in families, sometimes the plates fly; in families, the children give us headaches. And I’m not even going to mention the mother-in-law. But in families, there is always, always, the cross. Always. Because the love of God, of the Son of God, also opened for us this path. But, in families as well, after the cross, there is the resurrection…. The family is, forgive the term I’ll use, it is a factory of hope, of hope of life and of resurrection. God was the one who opened this path in families, there are difficulties, but these difficulties are overcome with love.” (Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, 2015)

4. About marriage and couples’ relationship

“If we think about husband and wife, dream about the good qualities that they have. Don’t ever lose the illusion of when you were still boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“It is so important to listen. Husbands and wives need to communicate to bring happiness and serenity to family life.”

5. About rest and leisure

“Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.”

In God, no act of love, no matter how small, and no generous effort will ever be lost.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 21, 2023

6. About education

"Education is not about knowing things or taking lessons but about being able to use three lingos: those of the head, the heart, and the hands... learning so that you can think about what you feel and do, can feel what you think and do, and can do what you feel and think. Unity within a person."

7. About refugees and helping others

“It's hypocritical to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help... If I say I am Christian, but do these things, I'm a hypocrite."

8. About wealth

“I ask you to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not be ruled by it.” World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, 2014

9. About loving enemies

“To love everyone, including enemies, is difficult - I would say it is even an art! But an art that can be learned and improved. True love, that makes us fruitful and free, is always expansive and inclusive. This love cares, heals and does good.”

Happy 10th year anniversary, Pope Francis!