December 17, 2015

"The beginning of the world is not the work of chaos that owes its origin to another, but derives directly from a supreme Origin that creates out of love. The Big Bang, which nowadays is posited as the origin of the world, does not contradict the divine act of creating, but rather requires it. The evolution of nature does not contrast with the notion of Creation, as evolution presupposes the creation of beings that evolve.”

- Pope Francis, from the Plenary session of Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Casina Pio IV, Oct. 27, 2014, as quoted in National Catholic Reporter's Pope's quotes, part of The Francis Chronicles

Today is Francis' 79th birthday.