Quotes from Pope John (XXIII)

It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.

The representative of the highest spiritual authority of the earth is glad, indeed boasts, of being the son of a humble but robust and honest laborer.

Learn how to be a policeman, because that cannot be improvised. As regards being pope, you will see later. Anybody can be pope; the proof of this is that I have become one.

The family is the first essential cell of human society.

Italians come to ruin most generally in three ways, women, gambling, and farming. My family chose the slowest one.

A peaceful man does more good than a learned one.

Mankind is a great, an immense family. This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.

I have looked into your eyes with my eyes. I have put my heart near your heart.

It is now for the Catholic Church to bend herself to her work with calmness and generosity. It is for you to observe her with renewed and friendly attention.

See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little.

I am able to follow my own death step by step. Now I move softly towards the end.

The true and solid peace of nations consists not in equality of arms, but in mutual trust alone.

The social progress, order, security and peace of each country are necessarily connected with the social progress, order, security and peace of all other countries.