All the greatest things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom; justice; honour; duty; mercy; hope.

I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity.

You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.

A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.

I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God's mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time.

Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought of how the Church may render more clear her mission to be a witness to mercy; and we have to make this journey. It is a journey which begins with spiritual conversion. Therefore, I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its centre the mercy of God. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy.