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."

“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

All Quotes by Pope John Paul II

“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

“The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.”

— Pope John Paul II

Family

“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

“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

“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

“What we talked about will have to remain a secret between him and me. I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.”

— Pope John Paul II

Trust

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

— Pope John Paul II

Men

“Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it.”

— Pope John Paul II

God

“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

“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

“Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.”

— Pope John Paul II

Religion

“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

“Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church.”

— Pope John Paul II

Anniversary

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.”

— Pope John Paul II

Future

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

— Pope John Paul II

Freedom

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

— Pope John Paul II

History

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

— Pope John Paul II

Hope

“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

“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