Roman Catholic Bishops

"Considering the situation of North Korea, the conflict sedimented for half a century, we recognize that the path of rapprochement should be gradual. We cannot talk about "mission", but dialogue and reconciliation. Everything starts from considering the North Koreans our brothers, to love people, beyond the ideology and oppressive power they are subject to."

"If democracy appears to be the best system for achieving good for all, it is not exempt from faults. The reason is the fragileness itself of human nature. Because of this, vice and corruption are possible even in elections. Our democracy should always be getting more perfect, for the dignity and good of all Brazilians."

"It has been mentioned many times in our discussions that we, religious leaders, should face our governments and protest against their bad governance. We have done it many times but we do not seem to be getting much success. When we protest, they sometimes criticize that we are interfering in politics and that we should confine ourselves to religious matters only. They think that we are supporting one or other of the political parties on the opposition. We should make it clear to them that religious matters include defending the rights of the people."

"Music can carry a positive message because its universal language can fortify social fabric. This is why we should support the initiative aimed a seeking the best for our young people."

"It is true protests are useful but we too must make proposals. Certainly the problems are many, but besides protests we need proposals. I call on our young people, always full of initiative, to convince the rest of society to unite and work together to restore peace at last … It is not right to leave everything to the authorities, every sector must make its contribution according to its possibilities, only in this way will peace return"

"Through our Catholic schools we are able reach out to numerous families in our country. If teachers are aware of their mission the effects of students will soon be seen. Our teachers will only be appreciated if their life style is in keeping with that of Jesus, the greatest Teacher of all."

"The true faith of the people of God is surely and principally rooted in the faith and piety of the mother of the family who can also be a key person in fostering vocations. Tribal women are very good catechists. If they are trained well in their faith, they have a great advantage over men catechists. If tribal women are trained as evangelizers, they will be great carriers of the Gospel of Jesus."

"Missionaries with most success are not the most learned but the ones who use the Rosary as means for Mission. In my diocese many people have little technical knowledge but they pray and so they evangelise with the Rosary and they are the ones whose missionary work is most fruitful. Instead of speeches and explanations on spiritual themes, what people need is to experience the living God and this is only possible through prayer."

"What should be hope for the Church is actually a tremendous headache from an institutional perspective. I have witnessed many bishops here saying, "No, vocations are on the rise." They don't say the same thing about religious vocations because evidently that would be a lie as the numbers are very clear."

"Wealth has an irresistible power, and when a human being enters into the dynamic of gaining more and living better, money replaces the providence of God and demands absolute submission. The heart of the individual trapped by money hardens, he tends to seek only his own interests, he doesn't think of the suffering and needs of others…there is no place for solidarity nor for a God who is a merciful Father and compassionate with all his children."

"We will continue to work in the spirit of the Comboni missionaries, opening new parishes especially in towns like Arua, Koboko, Moyo and Adjumani, and expand the network of centers of Catechism throughout the entire diocesan territory. In this sense we are a missionary diocese, because we have many priestly and religious vocations."

"I am confident that we all should strive in this direction: preserving our own identity, be ready and able to accept and positively assess the wealth of other nations and other religions. In this regard, Azerbaijan is a positive example for other countries."

"We welcome them as our brothers and sisters, and we want them to stay with us as one people. So the people are open to receive them, but they're also concerned that other must help us care for these refugees."

"Even if they don't love the Bishop, I am not eternal and time will come for me to move on. Destroying church property is unjustifiable. People who are in their good mind seek dialogue, but if you go and destroy to express yourself, it shows that you have no capacity for dialogue."

"These days extend shadows of death over our common life and our families and, at the same time, we cannot help but recognize the signs of spring. The resurrection is the flower that blooms and anticipates the joy of being able to taste its fruit one day. It is the bud that is blooming. To die like Christ and with Christ, in the events of our life, is to make the power of love dwell in our dead. We do not have the strength of the love of Christ but he confers it on us."

"Hong Kong now, rather than a Bridge-Church, can be considered a sister-Church to China. We do not know what harvest all of this sowing will yield, but hopefully it will be an abundant one."

"In order to minister to non-Catholic traditional rulers, priests and catechists who receive invitations to traditional festivals and burials are encouraged to take these invitations up, and use them as means of evangelization. Through this initiative, some followers of African Traditional Religion have been converted to the Catholic faith."

"We try to educate the people as a Christian community. We have meetings and prayer time together. In this way, we do not judge things in terms of majority or minority in relationship to the other Christian denominations, because we work together so that all Christians may be one."

"I think Mozambique needs to rediscover the meaning of life. There's a need for moral regeneration; we need to preach the gospel of reconciliation to everyone, to find a way to reconcile with ourselves and with God. We need to restore hope, to educate the youth."

"I believe that the obligation of each of us must be to offer our neighbor a perspective that is not political. Here in Karaganda there are people of 130 different nationalities: if each of us judged the other on the basis of our own nationality, there would be no peaceful coexistence. As Christians we need to understand what unites us: certainly not nationality, because we are different, but Jesus Christ who is among us unites us. Of course there are divisions and differences, but if we start from these, we will no longer be able to look each other in the eye."

"The foundations of the future Catholic Church were laid with the active participation of the faithful: in fact, everyone took part in the construction of the temple, from the smallest to the oldest, including the disabled and the sick. Furthermore, when they returned to their historical homeland, hundreds of former local parishioners brought new life to the life of the Church in Germany, Poland and other countries. As in the first centuries, the sufferings and blood shed by these Catholics multiplied the number of Christians, giving life to this Church."

"We are here to serve, and sometimes we receive humiliations, the Church always asks for consent and offers physical and moral spaces for dialogue."

"One who denies that we are sick of violence, I think looks the other way. I do not know if many of those who criticize today have ever walked through neighborhoods as we do. A radio station said that Bishops are like Princes of the Church. I want to invite this reporter, if he wants, to put on a pair of shoes suitable for mud and to accompany and walk with me in the diocese. There are many who speak without knowing, without basis."

"Open the door of the domestic Church and of the big family of the Church, so that nobody in the world is without a family and the Church is the family for everyone. You must take charge of the service of deacons so that the Church becomes the home of people who suffer."

"Jerusalem is not like any other Church. It is the Mother Church. There are the holy places and to belong to the Church of Jerusalem was very important to me. But in the end, I understood, it is the Universal Church. It is the Catholic Church. There is a need everywhere and therefore I am ready to go."

"The people of Liberia are very religious people who believe and hope in eternal life. Liberians have suffered much and continue to have a difficult life, but they also have great patience – and they know how to be happy and enjoy life. I hope that this night of Ebola will pass away as soon as possible, and that we can fully enjoy life again. Ultimately, our hope is always the same: we hope in Jesus Christ who has overcome suffering and death. We are sure that He will not disappoint us."

"Priests must take into consideration the main message of Pope Francis, in which he asks to give life to a Church with a priestly path of holiness and not of perfection."

"The societies are a providential gift to the Church. Let us pray to the Lord of the Mission to help you come out with a clear understanding and plan of our great task of evangelization,"

"Sharing and being generous and opening the door to others is an Arab value and we are proud of it. The main thing that we share with our brother Muslims here is peace and security for Jordan. When we see what is happening in Syria and Iraq we pray to Almighty God to keep us safe and secure here."

"I am from Kandhamal, and I remember the constant threats and discriminations under which I grew up. The violence has only strengthened the faith of our people. They have stood firm. This remembrance has become a part of our life. This is not just remembrance. We need to defend our religious freedom and raise voices."

"My missionary work will be one of removing darkness from the minds of people and enlightening them with the message of Christ. It will help them see the others as their own brothers and sisters, spread good feelings of cordiality, brotherhood and peace among people, even if they belong to different religions or castes. They will, in short, think of the other person or their neighbour as their own."

"Our lagoon, our land, our sea, cried out when there was that oil spill that damaged much of the territory. We realized, on a small scale and in a very difficult way, the damage that failure to respect creation can bring. We, therefore, make a great appeal, so that wherever we are, we change not only our way of acting, but also our way of thinking and of being attentive to this great gift of God that is our common home."

"We are invited to open our hearts to others and to pray for them. Let us pray for the elderly and the sick who are the most vulnerable; let us pray for doctors and healthcare workers who are put to the test; we pray for those whose economic situation is already affected by the epidemic; let us pray for those who live in difficult conditions of misery or loneliness."

"Blessed are those who from South America, Central America, and the United States and, especially, from our beloved Mexico, are present to demonstrate a valiant, daring, and generous youth who want to bring our peoples to Christ, especially the youth, in Aparecida, we Bishops, along with the Holy Father, said that we need a new Pentecost, a Pentecost like that which saw the birth of the Church."

"I am very touched by the trust he puts in me which is far from being deserved. I am at his disposal for whatever service he will ask of me."

"Fom Mexico, we also need to preach, no longer be merely baptized people."

"We must not allow violence among brothers, and we must seek justice through the institutions that apply the law. The solution will never come with violence."

"We have to at least be able to show our solidarity, to let them see that they have a pastor who suffers with their suffering, who gets angry and frustrated at their situation, who is indignant because of it."

"Look at the 12 apostles. Jesus chose a man who was the tax collector for the Roman empire and also one who was an enemy of Caesar. But Jesus is bigger than politics, and the same happens here."

"There are several elements that must be taken into account if you really want peace in Venezuela. One should start from the fact that we all have different ways of thinking, and both parties must accept this reality. To have peace there must be justice, because there can be no peace if there is no justice."

"We all have a responsibility in forging a more dignified Venezuela, but not in violent forms. The right to protest is a civil right granted by the Constitution that the State must recognize. No one can deny or hide that there is rampant violence and insecurity. the State must assume its role of governing for all citizens and not just for one faction."

"Let us ask God that all human beings, especially believers, will learn to be thankful for the gift of life that God has given us and that those who govern the destinies of the nations will establish laws that respect and defend that gift."

"I am just a very ordinary priest without much achievement. I'm not even aware what strengths I have. But my fellow priests, nuns and lay Catholics give me their support and trust, so I will try my very best."

"We must explain that we are animated by the Spirit of the Gospel: we do not want to impose our faith but we do want to announce it. The Church is not a non governmental organisation it is at the service of the Proclamation of the Word."

"My concern is that the candidates have said nothing about what sort of society must be built in Mali, nothing about long term prospects. I realise however that even the most advanced democracies these sort of questions are difficult to tackle. I think however that the level of instruction of the people must be raised and the education system improved so that, on a long term basis, it is possible to raise the level of political debate and create a more advanced democracy."

"There is no Church without the Eucharist. The fact that it is not available makes us become a Protestant Catholic Church, because we lack the Eucharist and the other sacraments."

"As Churches in the Pacific we are remote and somewhat isolated, but we know we are part of the universal Church and our that task is to be the presence of Christ in Oceania. We will keep in close contact with Rome to nourish our faith and our fidelity to the Holy Father and strive to be always authentic announcers of the Gospel."

"It is beautiful to bear witness for a God who teaches us through His heart to broaden our horizons, to stop concentrating solely on our own interests and instead open up more and more. That is His love for us. And that is what we should bear witness to and teach. That is the good news, the gospel. And for me that it is the colour of Catholicism."

"Perhaps Catholics in Georgia are less enthusiastic, but this is normal. It is just like a plane: it takes off quickly, but then it has to keep the route. I am not worried."

"Never in the two thousand year history of the Church has it occurred that a more modern form of celebrating the liturgy leaves the previous form out of use, in a sort of tacit derogation."