Why Pope Francis’ Wise Words Could Change Your Marriage Forever

Pope Francis, the Head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, has died. The Argentine pontiff has left behind a legacy of kindness and incredibly progressive views on a multitude of issues plaguing the modern world.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Bueno Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was the first pontiff of Latin American descent since the 8th century. Through his 12-year term as the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis was known to have a less rigid and more progressive approach to papacy than his predecessors. In a world that’s increasingly leaning towards the right and brutal conservatism, Pope Francis stood out as a beacon of hope for the marginalised.

He gave voice to issues like LGBTQ+ rights, gender identity, migration and the refugee crisis, climate change, and atrocities like the ongoing genocide by Israel against Palestinians.

He firmly believed in choosing compassion over doctrinal rigidity and fought to relax some of the more conservative views held by the Catholic church. For instance, he enforced a relaxation of rules that barred divorcees and remarried people from receiving communion. His views on marriage and relationships, too, were focused on empathy and compassion rather than adhering to rigid societal conventions.

In an address in Kraków, Poland, in July 2016, Pope Francis spoke to the crowd gathered outside the archbishopric about the value of marriage.

“When I meet someone who is getting married … I say to them, ‘You are the ones who have courage!’ Because it is not easy to form a family, not easy to commit your life forever; it takes courage. And I am proud that you are courageous,” he said.

He went on to deliver a powerful message to the newlyweds in the crowd about the three words that can ensure they have a healthy married life.

 “Marriage is something so beautiful and so wonderful that we have to look after it, because it is forever. And the three words are: 'May I?', 'Thank you,' and 'I'm sorry.' 'May I?': always ask your spouse, wife to husband and husband to wife, 'What do you think? What shall we do?' Never trample on the other. 'May I?'

The second word: be appreciative. How many times the husband needs to say to his wife, 'Thank you.' And how many times the wife must say to her husband, 'Thank you.' Thank each other, because the sacrament of marriage is conferred by the two spouses, one to the other. This sacramental relationship is maintained with gratitude. 'Grazie.'

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The third word is 'I'm sorry.' It is a very difficult word to say. In marriage, there is always some misunderstanding between husband and wife. Knowing how to recognise that and to apologise, to ask forgiveness, does a lot of good. (Here) there are young families, newlyweds, many of you are married, others are about to get married: remember these three words, which have helped so much in married life: 'May I?', 'Thank you,' and 'I'm sorry.'"

As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, it will do us good to hold his words close to our hearts and reflect upon them.