Pope Francis gives surprise TED talk at conference on ‘the future you’

April 26, 2017

Pope Francis has made a surprise recorded video appearance at the annual TED conference in Vancouver.

The conference’s theme is “the future you.”

During his 18-minute talk, Pope Francis said he liked the theme because “while looking at tomorrow, it invites us to open a dialogue today, to look at the future through a ‘you.’”

“We can only build the future by standing together, including everyone,” he said, as he spoke about importance of “educating people to a true solidarity” and the “revolution of tenderness.” In doing so, he referred to the Good Samaritan and Mother Teresa.

“In order to do good, we need memory, we need courage and we need creativity,” the Pope said. Later he said: “To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope.”

“The more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsible you are to act humbly,” the Pope added. “If you don’t, your power will ruin you, and you will ruin the other.”

The Holy Father ended his talk with a request to listeners to “think think of me as well with tenderness, so that I can fulfil the task I have been given for the good of the other, of each and every one, of all of you, of all of us.”

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis gives TED talk: 'We build future together' (Vatican Radio)
• Pope urges powerful to act humbly in surprise TED talk appearance (Reuters)
• Full text of Pope's remarks (Holy See Press Office)