In his interview with journalists on the return flight from Manila Francis talked about an experience he had in Buenos Aires, when officials asked for a bribe in exchange for funds for the poor. He mentioned gender as an example of the “colonisation of peoples”, recalling dictatorships’ attempts at indoctrination. He announced forthcoming trips to Africa and Latin America and repeated the example of the punch. While talking about falling birth rates he also pointed out that being Catholic does not mean breeding “like rabbits”. He said he was touched by the gestures of the Filipinos.

Pope Francis has praised the Jordanian spirit of hospitality demonstrated towards the refugees of Middle Eastern countries. Pope Francis said, in his annual address on Monday, January 12, to diplomats accredited to the Holy See on the occasion of exchanging good wishes marking the advent of the new year: "I found the spirit of hospitality in Jordan which I visited at the beginning of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land", referring in particular to the commitment to hosting refugees coming from other countries of the Middle East.

In his homily at the mass celebrated with bishops, priests and seminarians in Manila’s Cathedral, Francis said: “They are the heart of the Gospel”. Family and marriage “are increasingly under attack from powerful forces which threaten to disfigure God’s plan for creation”. After mass the Pope embraced street children.

The Paris attacks, religious freedom and freedom of expression, responsibility. On the flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, Pope Francis explained: “Reacting with violence is not right, but if someone insults my mother, that’s asking for a punch. Benedict XVI spoke about a positivist mentality that considers religions as subcultures”

During the ceremony for the Canonization of St. Joseph Vaz, the Pope praised his non-aggressive missionary work in service of the poor, reaffirmed religious freedom as a “fundamental human right” and spoke of a Church that “goes out”

Francis’ final meeting for today,January 13, - the first day of his visit to Sri Lanka - was with representatives of religions: “We must be clear and unequivocal in challenging our communities to live fully the tenets of peace and coexistence found in each religion, and to denounce acts of violence when they are committed”.

The year 2014 is reminiscent of political and humanitarian events, as well as universal religious initiatives aimed at spreading the culture of love and dialogue in addition to continuing the sincere prayers for peace in the world.

Addressing the "religious issue" neither means, of course, delving into the private affairs of a certain religion by excluding the other, nor meddling in affairs relevant to interaction and harmony among religions or within the same religion and within the "community" itself.

Interview with the Holy Father: "The Gospel’s message is for everyone, the Gospel does not condemn the wealthy, but the idolatry of wealth, the idolatry that makes people indifferent to the call of the poor."

Here are the latest statistics relating to the composition of the College of Cardinals following the recent nominations: Of the 125 cardinals who have the right to vote in a future Conclave, 57 are European and 26 of these Italian

The meeting - scheduled some time ago - between French cardinal Tauran and the French Muslim spiritual leaders took place in the wake of the attack on Charlie Hebdo: “May the media offer information that is respectful of religions”.