Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II

27 quotes

Pope John Paul II is a Head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005 whose observations carry a rare combination of clarity and depth. The range of their thinking — from Family to Society — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. 44 of Pope John Paul II's sharpest quotes live here, spanning themes of Family, Society, Freedom, War, and Men. One standout: "Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes."

“The historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency.”

— Pope John Paul II

Experience

All Quotes by Pope John Paul II

“The unworthy successor of Peter who desires to benefit from the immeasurable wealth of Christ feels the great need of your assistance, your prayers, your sacrifice, and he most humbly asks this of you.”

— Pope John Paul II

Great

“Radical changes in world politics leave America with a heightened responsibility to be, for the world, an example of a genuinely free, democratic, just and humane society.”

— Pope John Paul II

Politics

“Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it.”

— Pope John Paul II

History

“The historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency.”

— Pope John Paul II

Experience

“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”

— Pope John Paul II

Freedom

“I have a sweet tooth for song and music. This is my Polish sin.”

— Pope John Paul II

Music

“I hope to have communion with the people, that is the most important thing.”

— Pope John Paul II

Hope

“Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of men.”

— Pope John Paul II

Men

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.”

— Pope John Paul II

Future

“To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.”

— Pope John Paul II

Family

“War is a defeat for humanity.”

— Pope John Paul II

War

“Today, for the first time in history, a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil. This fair land, once a distant outpost of the pagan world, has become, through the preaching of the Gospel, a beloved and gifted portion of Christ's vineyard.”

— Pope John Paul II

History

“Young people are threatened... by the evil use of advertising techniques that stimulate the natural inclination to avoid hard work by promising the immediate satisfaction of every desire.”

— Pope John Paul II

Work

“Pervading nationalism imposes its dominion on man today in many different forms and with an aggressiveness that spares no one. The challenge that is already with us is the temptation to accept as true freedom what in reality is only a new form of slavery.”

— Pope John Paul II

Freedom

“When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.”

— Pope John Paul II

Freedom

“You will reciprocally promise love, loyalty and matrimonial honesty. We only want for you this day that these words constitute the principle of your entire life and that with the help of divine grace you will observe these solemn vows that today, before God, you formulate.”

— Pope John Paul II

Anniversary

“I kiss the soil as if I placed a kiss on the hands of a mother, for the homeland is our earthly mother. I consider it my duty to be with my compatriots in this sublime and difficult moment.”

— Pope John Paul II

Home

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

— Pope John Paul II

Easter

“Humanity should question itself, once more, about the absurd and always unfair phenomenon of war, on whose stage of death and pain only remain standing the negotiating table that could and should have prevented it.”

— Pope John Paul II

Death

“There are people and nations, Mother, that I would like to say to you by name. I entrust them to you in silence, I entrust them to you in the way that you know best.”

— Pope John Paul II

Best