In 2013, the Catholic and religious world in general was changed forever when Jorge Bergoglio, a former nightclub bouncer and chemical technologist was elected as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Now known to us as Pope Francis, he is the first Jesuit Pope and the first non-European Pope in 1,272 years. He has not, however, gained the respect and attention of the world through these interesting distinctions. His shockingly relatable manner and emphasis on kindness, love, and mercy have made him tremendously popular. Here are a few inspiring quotes by him that we can all relate to, Catholic or not.

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

I certainly struggle with the vastness of the world's problems, and fail to see how I can change them when I'm just a young college student. We don't have to change everything by ourselves though. Just a small act of kindness and some friendly words would certainly add up if we all tried a little bit more.

2. "We must always think of the person."

Though this specific quote was a comment on homosexuality, it can be applied to our everyday lives. No matter our differences or our beliefs, we are all people at the end of the day, and we should always take others and our shared humanity into consideration when we act.

3. "Money has to serve, not rule."

Long before our generation, money has been a governing factor in the world. Unfortunately, people that are elevated by the financial hierarchy often regard their fortune with greed. They are permitted to use this position to exert control over others and keep them in their subordinate positions. The rich stay rich, and the poor stay poor. Rather than perpetuate this dynamic, we should work to change positions of financial dominance into positions of increased service.

4. "Although the life of a person is in a land of thorns and weeds, there is always space in which a good seed can grow."

It's no secret that life can be hard. It's important to remember that throughout all of our struggles, that there is always a bright side and a way to emerge from them. Not only is it possible to make it out alive, but our challenges can also provide us with the opportunity to grow. With the right attitude and effort, any terrible situation can be made into a positive experience.

5. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not a Christian."

Although this quote was directed at the inflammatory statements of a controversial presidential candidate, it can be a lesson to us all. It's our Christian duty to reach out to all others and work to forge positive relationships with them. Even when it's difficult and it seems that the "bridge" could only foster more hate and resentment, it's important for us to try all the more. After all, it was Jesus Christ who taught us to treat others with infinite kindness, as our brothers and sisters, and as we would want them to treat us.

6. These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that's a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone."

In America we have more empty houses than we have homeless individuals. Every day we throw away food that could go towards feeding others. In some cities, dumpsters are even locked to prevent the hungry from taking food out of them. There is a clear abundance and a clear need, so there is no reason to not connect the two. We certainly don't lack the resources to help others; we simply need to have the kindness and initiative to do so.