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Pope Francis told young people to always "look to the horizon" and open their hearts to other peoples and cultures.

Many Christians who died for the faith did so, not because they were denied the freedom to worship, but because they were living out their faith and defending freedom, justice and truth, Pope Francis said.

While the Second Vatican Council gave the Catholic Church a "beautiful" document on the priesthood, "it did not face the fundamental question" of the difference between Catholic and Protestant understandings of ordained ministry, wrote Pope Benedict XVI in an essay published after his death.

As the Biden administration and state governments look at ways to expand or restrict access to abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling, Pope Francis prayed that God would strengthen people's commitment to protecting human life at every stage.

Lengthy, abstract homilies are "a disaster," so preaching should be limited to 10 minutes, Pope Francis said.

Even though war seems to be an "invincible monster," everyone is called to be a peacemaker, Pope Francis told a group of people severely wounded in the line of duty.

To be credible messengers of the Gospel, Catholic missionaries must be authentic, open to others and to dialogue, Pope Francis said.

The Word of God, which heals and raises people up, is meant for everyone, Pope Francis said.

The best way to fight a sense of fear about the future is to do good today, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis did not need to launch listening sessions for the Synod of Bishops for people to discover there are tensions in the Catholic Church, said the cardinal serving as the synod's relator general.