"I was born in a Christian family. I had the desire to join a convent from my early years onward. My calling to become a nun was not because of the effects of poverty on my family or because I was not performing well in class, but it was my choice to serve God."

"We ask forgiveness for the genocide as individuals, because it is not the Church as such that committed these crimes, but his children who have sinned. It also condemns the ideology of genocide that was an important element in unleashing the tragedy that involved the destruction of so many lives and the social fabric of our Country."

"When God chooses you, you wonder, "Why me?" but you place yourself in God's hands and rejoice. Naturally, you also feel fear, asking, "Why did God choose me? How will I fulfill this mission?" But you trust because if God chose you, He believes you will accept and succeed. Today, my heart is filled with joy and wonder at God. It's a day to thank Him, to praise Him, and to once again place myself in His hands so that He can work through me."

"We have come to share life with you and to join ourselves to your situation after the misfortune you experienced. We have visited different places affected and are happy you are well. The disasters have not changed you. We thank God, who has given you courage and allowed you to stand firm in these trying moment."

"Dearest brother, Thank you for wanting to help me. I would rather die than abandoning the forty-three persons for whom I am responsible. Pray for us, that we may come to God. Say ‘goodbye’ to our old mother and our brother. When I come to God, I shall pray for you. Keep well. Thank you for thinking of me. If God saves us, as we hope, we shall see each other tomorrow."

"We are praying for you before God so that you stop what you are doing to your compatriots."

"We used to call her a heroine as far back as the 1980s. She was that type of girl that everyone liked, she was selfless and had a generous heart, especially towards the neediest. ... Besides her church responsibilities, she was patriotic; she would always encourage us to love the country and all its children as we did for ourselves."

"Her impact extended beyond academic achievements, showing the spirit of unity and compassion. ... In the streets of Gisenyi, Niyitegeka's presence was a beacon of light and love, and her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and the hearts she warmed."

"When news broke that the President (Juvenal Habyarimana) had died (in a plane crash on April 6, 1994) and killings had broken out, we all decided to stay at the center praying ... Niyitegeka would comfort us, urging us to be courageous enough and offer ourselves as sacrifices of peace for the betterment of the country."

"She tried to save all who came to her for help, and when the Hutu extremists attacked her residence, she accompanied those who were seized simply for being Tutsi to their deaths, and so was put to death, too. ... She demonstrated her love, modeled after Jesus’ love, even at the price of her life. Her life demonstrates her belief that all people have value and dignity."

"I have no more reason to live, now that you have killed all of my sisters."

"I foresee an imminent danger."

"I haven’t any inyenzi [cockroaches]. They are human beings, your brothers and sisters."

"Simply go and tell him to never worry about my safety. I cannot leave these people (Tutsi refugees) alone. I’m ready to bear what might happen to them."

"I thank the Lord, for He is the author of history: History in general or personal history. I never ever dreamt of being a Cardinal. It was the Lord who wanted it. I love the Lord, and I consecrated my life to work for Him. Being a Cardinal gives me the opportunity to do even much more for the Lord. I am incredibly grateful to the Holy Father for entrusting me with this responsibility. I love the Church; I enjoy working for the Church, and this will also give me the opportunity to do much more for it."

"God is not found in a disorganised way. If someone has a church they should also follow the doctrine of that church."

"Christmas is a good time to reflect on the humility espoused by Jesus Christ. The fact that he came on earth in a human body, the fact that he was born in the cowshed and died on the cross manifests his humility. Our message on Christmas is that it is fete of peace and kindness from God and which people should exercise and share."

"Forgiveness of the sin of abortion does not mean the Church condones abortion, neither does it minimise its grave effects."